The Premier of New Brunswick has made “principled support for Israel” a key plank in his re-election campaign. The statement “Premier Higgs stands with Israel” is featured prominently on the recently-launched website helphiggswin.ca, just above a link soliciting donations for his election fund.
On January 26, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court in the United Nations system, issued a ruling in favour of South Africa, which charged that Israel is violating the Genocide Convention as it carries out unprecedented acts of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The court, in a vote of fifteen to two, put forth the binding order to Israel: “The State of Israel shall (…) in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of this Convention, in particular: (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”
As part of this binding order, “The State of Israel shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month as from the date of this Order.”
The language of the ruling is heavy with the implication that Israel must cease its military campaign which has destroyed much of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza, killed upwards of 26,000 Palestinians, and left millions displaced.
In Gaza, the risk of famine and widespread disease as a result of this campaign is now extremely high, as humanitarian aid has been blocked by Israelis and subject to endless bureaucratic obstacles. The Israeli process for inspecting aid is so strict that entire trucks are rejected if a single item does not meet arbitrary standards.
In response to the ICJ ruling, leading Israeli officials have mocked the Court and claimed it is antisemitic. The Israeli military has also reportedly intensified the bombing of Gaza, including in Rafah, the southern area near the Egyptian border where over a million people are sheltering in horrible conditions.
The ICJ ruling also applies to any state which provides material support to Israel during the 30-day window in which it must stop committing the acts listed under the Genocide Convention. Every documented act of material support for Israel during this time can potentially be prosecuted at a later date, if proceedings are brought within the ICJ against the states providing support.
Individuals can also be charged under the framework of the International Criminal Court (ICC) if they are found to be providing material support to Israel as it carries out genocide. (more...)
Premier Blaine Higgs must rethink support for Israel
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