The International Court of Justice (ICJ) examined the heated case charging Israel of genocide in its campaign against Gaza. Among the ICJ board, composed of 15 magistrates, is Moroccan-born Mohamed Bennouna, a key leader in international law.
The jurists elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council heard arguments submitted by both South Africa’s legal team and Israel’s legal representatives.
Judge Bennouna, born in Marrakech in 1943, has been a mainstay of the International Court of Justice since his election in February, 2006. He holds a doctorate in international law and degrees from the Academy of International Law in The Hague.
Bennouna’s judicial expertise includes serving as a Judge ad hoc in the ICJ’s Border Dispute case between Benin and Niger from 2002-2005.
Beyond the courtroom, he served as Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2001-2006.
He also served in the educational sector as Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law of Rabat, (1972-1984), and Guest Lecturer at universities in such wide-ranging locales as Tunis, Algiers, Nice, New York, Thessaloniki, and Paris.
His influence extends even further, as he directed the Arab World Institute in Paris from 1991-1998 and served as a Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague from 1998-2001.
At the end of December, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel for genocidal intent for its Gaza crimes, for which a high-stakes hearing took place on January 11-12.
Israel has denied South Africa’s accusations of intent to commit genocide in Gaza–in a public hearing at the ICJ–with its legal representatives labeling the accusation as “unfounded,” “absurd,” and “libel,” while further asserting that Israel has aimed to protect its people, not destroy them.
On the first day of hearing, South Africa accused Israel of systematic genocide in Gaza, wherein more than 23,500 Palestinians have been killed, with 70% of them being women and children.
Israel followed by claiming the right to self-defense following Hamas attack on October 7, and the lack of evidence of “genocidal intent.”
Israel’s legal representatives argued that its army has respected international law in Gaza, as evidenced by its attempt to avert civilian harm by alerting them of impending military action, and by facilitating humanitarian aid.
The list of countries and entities supporting the South African move include: The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) with its 57 members, the Arab League, Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Bolivia, Pakistan, Namibia, The Maldives, Colombia, and Brazil.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intimated that regardless of what transpires at the ICJ with respect to this matter, Israel will continue on the same path which it has set forth for the past 100 days.