Federal Liberal MPs are divided on what position Canada should take in the face of South Africa’s push to have Israel prosecuted for genocide over its war in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice will begin hearing South Africa’s application instituting proceedings on Thursday in The Hague. Pretoria says Israel’s widespread bombing of Gaza and siege of Palestinians living there “is genocidal in nature.”
South Africa says Israel expressed “specific intent required […] to destroy the Palestinians of Gaza as part of the larger national, racial and ethnic group of Palestinians.” Pretoria also claims that certain statements by Israeli officials are proof of genocidal intent.
Israel called the allegations “disgusting” and “unfounded.”
The International Court of Justice will hear pleadings from South Africa on Thursday and those from Israel on Friday.
The Canadian government has not yet expressed a position on this matter.
But later Wednesday, the Palestinian ambassador and South Africa’s high commissioner in Ottawa will both publicly call on Canada to support the “genocide” argument.
Liberal MP Salma Zahid agrees with this thesis, saying that Israel is violating international law.
But Liberal MPs Marco Mendicino and Anthony Housefather both say the South African request is “baseless and unacceptable” because Israel is simply trying to prevent Hamas militants from repeating the horrific aggression of October 7.
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