A panel of judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is currently deliberating on South Africa’s historic suit against Israel. The suit accuses Israel of carrying out a genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza. While a final ruling in the case may take years, the judges will decide whether to order a halt to Israeli military actions pending a trial.
In a recent episode of Intercepted, Katherine Gallagher, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), discussed the ICJ case and a lawsuit filed by CCR against President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The lawsuit accuses them of supporting and failing to prevent genocide in Gaza. Arguments for this case will begin next week in federal court in California.
Gallagher, along with Jeremy Scahill and Murtaza Hussain, explored the potential implications of a ruling in South Africa’s favor. They discussed how such a ruling could impact Israel’s U.S.-backed war against Gaza and how the U.S. might try to shield Israel from international consequences, as it has done in the past. They also examined the history of the U.S. judge who currently serves as president of the ICJ, as well as U.S. laws that require American officials to take actions to prevent genocide.
The lawsuit filed by CCR highlights the role of President Biden in enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza. It points out that Biden sponsored a law during his time as a senator that required American officials to prevent genocide, not enable it. The lawsuit argues that Biden, Blinken, and Austin failed to fulfill their obligations under this law by providing support to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The ICJ case and the lawsuit against Biden and other officials raise important questions about accountability for acts of genocide. If the ICJ rules in South Africa’s favor and orders a halt to Israeli military actions, it could be a significant step towards holding Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. However, it remains to be seen how the U.S. will respond and whether it will continue to shield Israel from international consequences.
The episode of Intercepted also sheds light on the history of the U.S. judge who currently serves as president of the ICJ. Understanding the background and biases of the judge is crucial in assessing the potential outcome of the case. It is important to consider whether the judge’s past decisions and affiliations could influence their ruling in this case.
Overall, the ICJ case and the lawsuit against Biden and other officials highlight the need for accountability when it comes to acts of genocide. These legal actions aim to hold Israel and its supporters responsible for their actions in Gaza. The outcome of these cases could have significant implications for Israel’s U.S.-backed war against Gaza and could potentially lead to greater international consequences for Israel’s actions. It is important to closely follow these developments and see how they unfold in the coming months and years.
In conclusion, the ICJ case and the lawsuit against Biden for enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza are significant legal actions that aim to hold Israel and its supporters accountable for acts of genocide. These cases raise important questions about accountability and the role of the U.S. in supporting or preventing genocide. The outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for Israel’s actions in Gaza and could potentially lead to greater international consequences for Israel. It is crucial to closely monitor these developments and see how they progress in the future.