Israel Urges Canada to Clarify Its Position on South Africa’s Genocide Accusation

People sit inside the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the day of the trial to hear a request for emergency measures by South Africa, who asked the court to order Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza and to desist from what South Africa says are genocidal acts committed against Palestinians during the war with Hamas in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands, on Jan. 11, 2024. (Thilo Schmuelgen/Reuters)

Israel’s ambassador says Canada needs to clarify its position on genocide accusations levelled by South Africa at a UN court, pointing to other G7 countries having “unequivocally” rejected the claim.

“At a time when the world’s leading liberal democracies and many of Canada’s closest allies and G7 members... are unequivocally rejecting South Africa’s cynical application, Israel urges Canada to leave no room for misinterpretation on a matter that is crystal clear,” Ambassador Iddo Moed said in a Jan. 18 statement.

Mr. Moed added that rejecting South Africa’s accusation is about defending the “only democracy in the Middle East” and protecting the international rules-based order.

South Africa has filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of “genocide” over its military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Israel is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which rules over the territory, after the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attacks. Lawyers from South Africa and Israel made their arguments before the ICJ in the Netherlands last week.

The Canadian government issued several statements on the matter in recent days. Mr. Moed says they “raise questions” about the country’s official position.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s official Jan. 12 statement says that “Canada’s unwavering support for international law and the ICJ does not mean we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa.”

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated this position during a Jan. 17 press conference. “Canada has always supported the international rules-based order and the structures around international law, including and especially the International Court of Justice,” he said. “We’re watching carefully as all the steps unfold.”

Most other G7 countries have outright rejected the genocide accusation. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has called it “meritless” and UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron referred to the accusation as “nonsense.” Governments in Germany, France, and Italy have taken a similar position.

The Israeli government calls it “one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history, compounded by a series of false and baseless claims.”

South African High Commissioner to Canada Rieaz Shaik told media on Jan. 10 that his country has the “firm” conviction that Israel’s actions in Gaza “may amount to genocide” and that taking Israel to the ICJ is the “most viable and immediate path to peace.”

Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, and other countries with left-of-centre governments like Brazil and Colombia have backed South Africa’s case.

Along with Mr. Moed, the federal Conservatives have criticized the Liberal government for its position on the matter, with leader Pierre Poilievre saying he would “take a clear stance based on moral clarity.”

“These countries have not accused Hamas of genocide when it’s in Hamas’ charter that they want to commit genocide against Israel,” he said on Jan. 12.