By Laetitia Merhi
Katrin Bolovtsova, February 11th, 2020
The International Court of Justice granted Israel a six-month extension to submit its defence in the Gaza genocide case initiated by South Africa, delaying the proceedings.
On April 14th, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) extended the deadline for Israel to file its Counter-Memorial, or defence, in the Gaza genocide case initiated by South Africa. The submission deadline was postponed by six months, from July 28th, 2025, to January 12th, 2026. In a statement released on April 17th, the Court said Israel had requested an extension in March, claiming that its preparation of the counter-memorial had been impeded by several “evidentiary issues that had arisen in connection with the Memorial of the Republic of South Africa”, among other reasons. The ICJ also clarified that its decision accounted for the views of involved parties.
Israel stands accused of violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide during its offensive in the Gaza Strip. South Africa instituted the proceedings in December 2023, with multiple countries filing declarations of intervention since then, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Türkiye, Ireland, and Belize. While a final ruling is yet to be reached, the ICJ issued provisional measures in January, March, and then again in May 2024. The orders became increasingly explicit, with the January provisions requiring Israel to do all within its power to prevent acts falling under the scope of the Convention, while the May provisions directly ordered it to halt the offensive on Rafah. In the meantime, Israel continues to deny the genocide allegations, and South Africa faces pressure from the US for instigating the case. Indeed, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order halting aid to the country in criticism of its domestic and foreign policy, including its “aggressive position” towards Israel.
The six-month extension coincides with renewed Israeli strikes on Gaza and the recent killings of 15 Palestinian medics which Israel has claimed was a “professional failure”. International efforts to reinstate a ceasefire agreement are ongoing, with Hamas seeking to secure Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and Israel wanting the release of remaining hostages. However, the delay of the ICJ proceedings risks dampening the momentum for accountability, especially as the Court’s deadline may have pressured Israeli officials to establish and publicise probes into the misconduct of IDF soldiers.
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