ICJ Extends Israel's Defense Against Genocide Charges

Recent claims circulating online that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel an illegal state are false; the ICJ has not issued any such decision, nor has it called for Israel to be unrecognized as a sovereign nation. The ICJ has, however, issued a non-binding advisory opinion stating that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful under international law and has called for an end to settlement activities and withdrawal from these areas. In response, thirty civil society organizations have urged world leaders to act on the ICJ’s findings and the UN General Assembly's resolution, emphasizing that states are legally bound not to support Israel's occupation. Meanwhile, the ICJ has recently granted Israel a six-month extension, delaying its required defense in the high-profile genocide case brought by South Africa, a decision that has received little mainstream media coverage. Allegations have also surfaced regarding the sole pro-Israel ICJ judge, Julia Sebutinde, for plagiarizing from pro-Israel sources in her dissenting opinions. Israel’s government continues to reject the ICJ’s findings, maintaining its historical claims to the territories in question.