South Africa Accuses Israel of Genocide in U.N. Courtthedigitalchaps

South Africa accused Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice Thursday, contending that the Jewish state’s military response to Hamas attacks launched from Gaza violates the international treaty drafted in the aftermath of Nazi Germany’s systematic extermination of six million Jews.  

More than 150 countries have ratified the Genocide Convention, which allows a nation to file a complaint against another it believes is committing genocide even if, as in South Africa’s case, it has no direct connection to the conflict. South Africa argues that Israeli military operations, which the Gaza health ministry says have cost more than 23,000 Palestinian lives, are intended to wipe out Palestinians in Gaza as a distinct group.