Bloody Sunday Trust - Court's 'plausibly genocidal' ruling on Israel 'momentous'

Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust has described the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case brought against Israel by South Africa as "momentous in the struggle for freedom and justice in Palestine".

Chair of the Trust, Tony Doherty said: "Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza has laid bare the reality of its settler colonial project in Palestine.

"Following the ICJ ruling it can no longer continue to claim that it is acting in compliance with international law. This is a momentous development in the struggle for freedom, justice and dignity for the people of Palestine which will have significant long term implications”.  

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Mr Doherty also pointed out that the Genocide Treaty places a double obligation on member states. 

He added: "Firstly they must prevent genocide but secondly they must also punish it once it has happened. Therefore states are required to bring to justice another state which is committing genocide or has failed to prevent one. States are Treaty bound to cooperate in the pursuit of justice.

"Those states which have to date acted as the Axis of Genocide are now on notice to ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide. 

"Those who are currently providing military, financial and diplomatic support to Israel should be aware that the Convention states that a soldier or civilian who kills someone while aware that he is part of a system aimed at annihilation, is guilty of the crime of genocide. 

"This also applies to those who conspire to commit genocide, those who incite genocide, and those who attempt to participate in genocide," he added.

Tony Doherty also called for "an immediate cessation of funding and facilitation of  Israel’s military actions, which the ICJ has found to be plausibly genocidal".

"The most effective way to fulfil the order of the court is through a full, immediate and permanent ceasefire."