The Intriguing Case of South Africa vs. Israel at the ICJ: A Trivia Buff’s Guide to the Genocide Trial

The Legal Tug-of-War: Israel, South Africa, and the ICJ Showdown. In a world where international law often reads like a thriller novel, the South Africa vs. Israel case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stands out as a blockbuster. It’s not just a legal battle; it’s a clash of historical narratives, political ideologies, and a lot of “he said, she said.” So, grab your gavels, trivia aficionados, as we delve into this courtroom saga.

The Spark That Lit the Fuse: A Tragic Prelude

Background of the Conflict: Picture this – it’s Oct. 7, 2023, and Hamas militants decide it’s a good day for a massacre, leading to 1,200 casualties and 260 hostages. Israel, not one to sit back and write strongly worded letters, launches a military campaign in Gaza. Their mission? To obliterate Hamas, bring hostages back, and prevent future attacks. It’s like a Liam Neeson movie but with international legal implications.

The Accusation: South Africa Throws the Gauntlet

South Africa’s Allegations: Enter South Africa, playing the role of global conscience. They accuse Israel of everything but the kitchen sink: genocidal acts, using “dumb” bombs (because apparently, smart bombs were on backorder), and turning neighborhoods into rubble.

Israel’s Comeback: Denial with a Side of Accusation

Israel’s Response: Israel denies the genocide allegations. They claim they’re just after Hamas, who, according to them, uses civilians as human shields. It’s a classic case: “I’m not hitting you; I’m hitting the evil behind you.”

The Human Cost: A Grim Reality Check

Casualties and Destruction: Over 23,000 people died in Gaza, and not just combatants – women, children, the whole tragic spectrum. The area is now less habitable than a bachelor’s fridge – widespread destruction, homes ruined, and a looming famine.

Courtroom Drama: The ICJ Edition

International Court of Justice Proceedings: Here’s where the legal eagles at the ICJ in The Hague come in. South Africa is playing the prosecutor, pointing fingers at alleged genocidal acts. Israel is on the defense, talking about self-defense against Hamas. It’s like a legal “Clash of the Titans,” but with fewer special effects.

TheProof Puzzle: South Africa’s Herculean Task

Challenges in Proving Genocidal Intent: South Africa’s got to prove that Israel’s not just anti-Hamas but anti-Palestinian. It’s like trying to prove someone hates pineapple on pizza – it’s about the intent, not just the action.

Historical Echoes: The Roots of Solidarity

South Africa’s Support for Palestine: This isn’t just about current affairs. South Africa’s beef with Israel goes way back, like a grudge held by your grandma. It’s rooted in Israel’s cooperation with the Apartheid regime.

The Global Stage: The World’s Eyes on The Hague

International Perspective and Involvement: This trial isn’t just a local squabble; it’s got VIP seats filled with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It’s the geopolitical equivalent of having Beyoncé at your birthday party.

The Long Game: ICJ’s Deliberation Marathon

Potential Outcomes: The ICJ’s got a tough job. They’re weighing whether Israel is guilty of genocide, and let’s just say their decision won’t necessarily be “coming soon.” The verdict could take years, making it the ‘Game of Thrones’ of legal battles – long, complex, and full of unexpected twists.

The Motive Behind the Motion: South Africa’s Chess Play

South Africa’s Motivation: This isn’t just a legal move; it’s a strategic play in the complex chess game of international relations. South Africa is trying to regain its moral high ground, especially after their ‘oops’ moment with Russia’s Ukraine invasion. It’s like trying to win back your ex by showing how much you’ve ‘changed.’

And there you have it, trivia buffs – a legal saga with more layers than a seven-layer dip. Whether you’re Team Israel, Team South Africa, or just here for the popcorn, this South Africa vs. Israel trial at the ICJ is a masterclass in international law, politics, and the art of the comeback. Stay tuned to HowSmart.net for more brain-tickling updates on this and other riveting global dramas!

🙋‍♀️ FAQ: South Africa vs. Israel Genocide Trial at ICJ

🔥Take the Israel Quiz

Now that you know all the facts about South Africa vs. Israel at the ICJ, how about a news quiz?

Israel Quiz

Daily Quiz for Oct. 17, 2023: 11 general knowledge multiple-choice questions about Israel, its politics, and its culture. Click “Start quiz.”

1 / 11

1. Who was Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister?

Photo: U.S. Department of State, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

David Ben Gurion.

Shimon Peres.

Yitzhak Rabin.

Benjamin Netanyahu.

Benjamin Netanyahu served in office for 15 years until 2021 and was reelected in 2023, the longest-serving Israeli prime minister. Israel’s national founder David Ben-Gurion is the previous Israeli record holder with 13 years in power.

2 / 11

2. What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Photo: Dieter Manske, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A series of fictional ancient writings about the Jews.

The only living creatures in the Dead Sea.

Fragments of biblical texts dating back 2,000 years.

A series of ancient historiographical works by a Jewish historian.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient fragments of biblical texts dating back almost 2,000 years and thought to have been hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome. The first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was found by a Bedouin shepherd near the salty lake in 1947 and are among the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century.

Were new dead sea scrolls found lately?

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced Tuesday, March 16, 2021, that a four-year archaeological project uncovered portions of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, including the books of Zechariah and Nahum. It is the first such discovery in 60 years.

3 / 11

3. In which language was the ‘I Have No Other Country’ poem that Nancy Pelosi quoted in Congress written initially?

Screenshot: CNBC

Arabic

Hebrew

English

Flemish

Nancy Pelosi quoted Israeli poet Ehud Manor’s song ‘I Have No Other Country’ in Congress on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2021, one day before Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment. The lyrics go, ‘I won’t be silent because my country has changed her face / I will not give up reminding her / And sing in her ears until she will open her eyes.’ 

Watch Israeli Indie rocker Ninet Tayeb perform this song in a Yitzhak Rabin memorial (Hebrew).

4 / 11

4. What caused hundreds of Israeli military reservists to say they wouldn’t show up for duty?

Screenshot: Sky News Australia – YouTube

They were protesting against the country’s mandatory military service.

They were protesting against the country’s revised tax laws.

They were protesting against the country’s military budget cuts.

They were protesting against the country’s legal system overhaul.

Hundreds of elite officers in Israel’s military reserves said they would not show up for duty starting Mar. 19, 2023. This is in protest against the ruling coalition’s planned overhaul of the judicial system. The protesters say the plan undermines democracy by restricting the power of the Supreme Court. The protests paused after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, and the reservists did not follow their threat.

5 / 11

5. What did Israel’s Finance Minister say after a terror attack that sparked international fury?

Screenshot: The Marker Labels – YouTube

He said he would donate his salary to the victims’ families.

He said he would erase the Palestinian village where the attack occurred.

He said he would invite the Palestinian president to a fistfight.

He said that he would resign from his post and join the army.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, made this shocking statement after a gunman killed two Israeli brothers in the West Bank village of Huwara on February 26, 2023, and just after 400 Israeli settlers executed violent revenge on the village. He also said the state should do it, not civilians. Smotrich later retracted his statement but did not apologize and accused the world of ignoring Palestinian violence.

How did the international community react?

The international community, including the US State Department, the UN human rights chief, and the Palestinian Authority, widely condemned his remarks. Smotrich is scheduled to visit Washington to speak at the annual Israel Bonds conference from March 12 to 14. During his visit, he may face a cold reception from the US administration and the Jewish community.

Is there a legal reform in Israel?

Smotrich is also a supporter of a controversial legal reform that would limit the power of the Israeli Supreme Court and the attorney general. This would allow the parliament to override the court’s rulings. The reform could save Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his corruption trial and prevent the court from interfering with the government’s policies on settlements, security, and immigration. And yes, that’s scary. By March 7, 2023, hundreds of Israeli reservists, including three dozen reservist fighter pilots, have signed letters promising not to serve if the overhaul passes.

6 / 11

6. Which law did Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu pass before delaying his flagship judicial changes?

Screenshot: IsraeliPM- YouTube

A law requiring men to wear a hat in public.

A law that allows him to stay in power for life.

A law that shields him from prosecution.

A law banning social media.

On March 26, 2023, thousands of Israelis protested the country’s planned judicial overhaul after Prime Minister Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who said the judicial overhaul must be stopped due to the damage it is doing to the military. The next day, Netanyahu agreed to delay his flagship judicial changes to the next parliamentary session, saying he wanted time to compromise with his political opponents over the divisive package, but not before passing a law protecting him from prosecution while in office.

7 / 11

7. What does Yuval Noah Harari’s children’s book Unstoppable Us describe?

Screenshot: Yuval Noah Harari – YouTube

How reptilian humanoids took over the world.

How Jews took over the world.

How humans took over the world.

How technology took over humans.

A new book by Yuval Noah Harari, UNSTOPPABLE US: How Humans Took Over the World, was released in 2022. The book explores why humans became the world’s ruling specie and the consequences for other species.

8 / 11

8. After being crowned Miss Israel in 2004, how did Gal Gadot spend the next two years?

Launching her Hollywood career in Los Angeles.

Studying acting in New York.

Modelling in Italy.

Serving as a fitness instructor in the Israeli army.

In 2004, at 18, Gal Gadot won Miss Israel. She then served two years in the Israel Defense Forces as a fitness instructor, after which she began studying law and international relations while building her modeling and acting careers.

In 2004, at 18, Gal Gadot won Miss Israel. She then served two years in the Israel Defense Forces as a fitness instructor, after which she began studying law and international relations while building her modeling and acting careers.

9 / 11

9. King Charles III was crowned on May 6, anointed with a special oil made from what?

Screenshot: GMA – YouTube

Coconut oil from Hawaii.

Olive oil from Israel.

Snake oil from China.

Sunflower oil from France.

The oil used to anoint King Charles III is called Chrism oil. It was created using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge east of Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel. The olives were pressed just outside the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born. The ceremony was held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified. The March 3, 2023, event was attended by Buckingham Palace representatives. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who performed the May 6 anointing service at Westminster Abbey, said the oil demonstrates the deep historical link between the coronation, the Bible, and the Holy Land.

10 / 11

10. Can you pinpoint Islam’s third-holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s geographical location?

Photo: أمين, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Jerusalem, within the Old City.

In Mecca, right beside the Kaaba.

In Rome, sharing a yard with the Colosseum.

In Gaza, next to the Palestine Tower.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. This mosque has stood for centuries and has been a focal point in the longstanding and deeply rooted conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, involving a large-scale surprise terror attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, were named Al-Aqsa Floods by the Gazan forces committing the atrocities. 1,400 Israelis were murdered by Hamas terrorists in their homes and at a music festival massacre, resulting in the evacuation of 1.1 million Gazans as the IDF retaliated.

11 / 11

11. What is a kibbutz?

Screenshot: Reuters – YouTube

An Israeli collective community, often agricultural.

A swift bird found in the Middle East, known for its resilience.

A popular Israeli dessert known for its sweet and flaky layers.

A secret underground tunnel network used during ancient wars.

A kibbutz is, traditionally, a collective community in Israel based on agriculture and known for its communal living ethos. The kibbutz concept aimed to create a society where all members contribute according to their ability and receive according to their needs, though most, if not all, kibbutzim are privatized today. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel brought global attention to the Kibbutzim Kfar Aza, Be’eri, Re’im, and other locations in southern Israel, where a brutal attack by Hamas militants resulted in a horrifying massacre of some 1,300 civilians in their homes, including children, with about 200 civilians kidnapped by the ISIS-inspired organization.

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Sources

We cross-checked our facts about South Africa vs. Israel at the ICJ with the world’s leading news outlets.

• AP News: Genocide case against Israel: Where does the rest of the world stand?
• The Guardian: South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is imperfect but persuasive. It may win
• The Washington Post: South Africa vs. Israel genocide case: 5 things about the ICJ hearings
• The Economist: South Africa’s support for the Palestinian cause has deep roots
• BBC News: What is South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ?