KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) — The St. Vincent and the Grenadines government says it “unequivocally supports” South Africa that has filed a complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while reiterating a demand for a ceasefire in the ongoing battle in the Gaza.
The ICJ was expected to hear a response from Israel later on Friday after South Africa outlined its genocide case on Thursday, with several countries welcoming the move amid a global chorus for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel has vehemently denied the accusations brought by South Africa in one of the biggest cases ever to come before an international court, one that has drawn international attention and protesters from both sides to the courthouse.
The 84-page filing by South Africa says Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.
Accordingly, South Africa is urging the ICJ to make relevant orders under the Provisional Measures of Court to stop the Israeli aggression, and to prevent any further acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip.
”The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines unequivocally supports the initiative of South Africa, and again reiterates the just demand for a cease fire. International law and elemental humanity ought to prevail over barbarism, genocide, and a wanton abuse of military might.
”St. Vincent and the Grenadines also calls for a cessation of material support and succour for Israel in Gaza provided by some governments. Those who continue to do so are complicit in genocide before our very eyes,” Kingstown said in its statement.
It said the acts in the complaint against Israel occurred during the 93 days of sustained state violence against children, women, and innocent civilians; the destruction of hospitals, schools, houses, and civilian facilities; and the intentional usage of starvation, and deprivation of water, medicine, electricity, and all other vital means of life.
Both Israel and South Africa are signatories to the United Nations Genocide Convention, which gives the ICJ — the highest UN legal body — jurisdiction to rule on disputes over the treaty.
All states that signed the convention are obliged to not commit genocide and also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.
Israel has defended its actions in Gaza, where it launched a massive air and ground assault after Hamas militants crossed into Israel on Oct. 7 last year, storming through communities and killing an estimated 1,200 people, mainly civilians.
The assailants also abducted around 250 people, over half of whom are still held captive.
Shut up St Vincent fixed your roads and everything that is wrong with your country. Fix your highest murder rate in the world , your high debt ratio, you are a beggar nation. Look at Israel they make the desert bloom, a scientific bastion and a shining democracy. Shut up St Vincent and find your place and ranking at the lowest end of the totem pole.
I am proud to see SVG come out in favour of South Africa position. I was never a Mandela supporter. His vision for South Africa and all of Africa was way off base.
South Africa know the effect apartheid has on a population and that’s why it had to stand up for the Palestinians who have endured this terrible situation for more that 70 years with the support of the US, UK and several EU countries.
The reason for this support to let their Jewish citizen move to Israel and occupy the lands the Israel usurped from the Palestinians. This is one reason why so many foreign Jews were captured by Hamas. On the other hand, the government of Israel don’t show any emphasis for returning the hostages because they are Jews from the US, UK and some EU nations.
It’s ironic that those same nations are working against Russia for doing the same thing that Israel is doing in Gaza and the West Bank. Which opens the Pandora box for China to invade Taiwan. America will be unable to support or help Taiwan when China makes it move, because it is occupied in wars in too many other countries. I am predicting that China will make its move in 2024 and Taiwan must be prepared to go it alone.
I am proud to see SVG come out in favour of South Africa position. I was never a Mandela supporter. His vision for South Africa and all of Africa was way off base.
South Africa knows the effect apartheid has on a population and that’s why it had to stand up for the Palestinians who have endured this terrible situation for more than 70 years with the support of the US, UK and several EU countries.
The reason for this support to let their Jewish citizen move to Israel and occupy the lands the Israel usurped from the Palestinians. This is one reason why so many foreign Jews were captured by Hamas. On the other hand, the government of Israel doesn’t show any emphasis for returning the hostages because they are Jews from the US, UK and some EU nations.
It’s ironic that those same nations are working against Russia for doing the same thing that Israel is doing in Gaza and the West Bank: Which opens the Pandora box for China to invade Taiwan. America will be unable to support or help Taiwan when China makes it move, because it is occupied in wars in too many other countries. I am predicting that China will make its move in 2024 and Taiwan must be prepared to go it alone.
America has taken the wrong side of the Gaza issue in not asking Israel to stop killing children and women. Meanwhile the men stay alive to become part of the new Hamas. How can they accept the behaviour of Israel and continue to live when their sibling, wives, children, fathers and mothers were killed by the terrorist Israel nation with its apartheid behaviour with the help of Apartheid Joe.
The is an old adage that goes like this, “Empty barrels make the most noise,” is synonymous with St Vincent trying to tell Israel what to do. Ralph Gonsalves may be a ” Big fish in a small pond, he maybe and rightfully so a would boss in St Vincent, but a paper tiger on the world’s stage.
I appeal to the average prudent reader to compare the critical metrics of St Vincent with that of Isreal and tell me what do you see culture man if I were to borrow that rendition from the Raggae Artist. I see blood running in St Vincent from its excessivemurder rate, poverty, unemployment, bad roads, , a severe debtor nation with wages being the lowest in the Caribbean according to a recent published statistics. .
The world is not enthused with the situation in Gaza as it stands today and has a right to be appalled. However, St Vincent lacks the moral campus moral barometer, and modicum to lecture Israel on its behavior or has no authority to define what is acceptable behavior.
The recent action of the finance minister in closing the budget debate prematurely points to a dictatorship. Therefore, St Vincent can only lecture to the nations of the same pedigree such as Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea and Nicaragua in that order. The good speaks about the beam and the mote in the eye, St Vincent should follow that advice.
Pure antisemitic wickedness by a regime which always supports forces that repress their very own people, in this case the terrorist group Hamas, in other cases Cuba and Venezuela.
This is foolish decision better watch that decision goes against God. Those who bless Israel will be bless those who curse it will be cursed.
C.Ben- David you are a convert so call Jew from the tribe of layou. Hail C.Ben David the king of the jews. We don’t come to criticize him. Hail up C.Ben- David .
C.Ben-David you are all over the place as a person who drinks from the Comrade cup. Why is it now that you took a contrasting stand to the Comrade on Israel? Is it because you are a wannabee Jew.
Z.Cerina there is a lot of self proclaimed theologist who claim to know it all with respect to the Bible. Jahoveh Jireh is not an unfair . He would not side with unfairness. Can you recall what happened to Israel when she sinned? This is a reminder of you self proclaimed theologist. In addition, the Israel of today is not the Israel of biblical times . Accordingly, your statement those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who hate Israel will be curse, is it still relevant knowing that the Israel of today is guilty of genocide.
Was my comment not to your liking?
Thanks for posting my comments. Folks it was the Jews that wanted Jesus killed, one of their own. Many people are saying he’s coming again, but which country will accept him?
Please keep in mind the bible was written close to 300 years after the death of Jesus. The details were constructed to make people believe he died to save us from our sins, and this false claim gave power to special people to controlled others.
It’s happening today and these dictators will take Jesus out if he comes back. He will not like what Israel is doing to the Palestinians and he would preach against it. Guess what, Netanyahu will take him out using America bombs.
If anyone believes I’m wrong, please let me know and show me where I went off the trail.
It is interesting that the government, not the people, but the government of SVG has taken this position. I remember Louis Straker saying in a political meeting in Kingstown, the voice of the people is the voice of God, foolishness. Our government has once again erred as standing against Israel is standing against God. Zephaniah 2:4-7 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
C. ben-David A wise man fills his head before emptying his mouth.Can you do that?