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Russia Not Surprised by Germany's Decision to Oppose South Africa in Its ICJ Case Against Israel

11:20, 21 January 2024

Rasina Musallimova

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On December 29, South Africa brought the allegation of Israel's "genocidal" intent in Gaza to the United Nations International Court of Justice. Turkey, Malaysia, Venezuela, Brazil and Iran, supported South Africa's case against Israel. The US, for its part, said it saw no evidence of genocide in the Gaza Strip, and Germany supported Israel.

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The decision of the German authorities to oppose South Africa at the United Nations, which filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, did not surprise Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova said.

"We were not surprised by the German government's decision to oppose the Republic of South Africa, which filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide against the population of the Gaza Strip.This comes against the backdrop of Berlin's unconditional support for Israel, regardless of the consequences," she said.

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She stressed that such a course by Berlin has long occupied an important place among the unspoken dogmas and the "rules-based order" determined by Washington. According to her, the German authorities have done Israel a disservice: in the statement, Berlin refers to "taking into account the history of Germany and the crime against humanity in the form of the Holocaust," thereby declaring itself an "expert" on issues of mass extermination.

"History is replete with examples of criminals who have committed serious crimes and who, by using their knowledge of their illegal experiences, have helped to prevent similar atrocities... We see that Germany has taken a different path in dealing with its past. Again, as 80 years ago, in the actions of official Berlin, the division of people along ethnic lines has been taken to a new, more sophisticated level," Zakharova noted.

As an example, she cited Germany's refusal to pay compensation to non-Jewish survivors of the Axis siege of the Soviet city of Leningrad (now the Russian city of Saint Petersburg), on the Eastern Front of World War II.

"Berlin still refuses to recognize the crimes of National Socialism against the peoples of our country as genocide," Zakharova added.

She concluded that Moscow considers the behavior of the German authorities unacceptable, illegal and immoral, but most disturbing is the revival of German militarism against the backdrop of the approval of neo-Nazi practices.

South Africa was supported in its stance against Israel, by a number of countries, including Turkey, Malaysia, Venezuela, Brazil and Iran. According to the Palestinian Minister of Justice, Mohammad Al-Shalaldeh, the African country has collected "convincing evidence" and its position in the case is "very strong."

The number of people killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli attacks since October 7 is over 25,000, more than 62,000 people have been injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.