Order of 5 April 2024

5 APRIL 2024
ORDER
APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE IN THE GAZA STRIP (SOUTH AFRICA v. ISRAEL)
___________
APPLICATION DE LA CONVENTION POUR LA PRÉVENTION ET LA RÉPRESSION DU CRIME DE GÉNOCIDE DANS LA BANDE DE GAZA (AFRIQUE DU SUD c. ISRAËL)
5 AVRIL 2024
ORDONNANCE
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
YEAR 2024
2024
5 April
General List
No. 192
5 April 2024
APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE IN THE GAZA STRIP
(SOUTH AFRICA v. ISRAEL)
ORDER
Present: President SALAM; Vice-President SEBUTINDE; Judges TOMKA, ABRAHAM, XUE, IWASAWA, NOLTE, CHARLESWORTH, BRANT, CLEVELAND, TLADI; Judge ad hoc BARAK; Registrar GAUTIER.
The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Article 48 of the Statute of the Court and to Articles 31, 44, 45, paragraph 1, and 48 of the Rules of Court,
Having regard to the Application filed in the Registry of the Court on 29 December 2023, whereby the Republic of South Africa (hereinafter “South Africa”) instituted proceedings against the State of Israel (hereinafter “Israel”) concerning alleged violations in the Gaza Strip of obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide;
Whereas, on 29 February 2024, a meeting was held by the President of the Court with the representatives of the Parties pursuant to Article 31 of the Rules of Court, in order to ascertain their views with regard to the time-limits for the filing of the initial written pleadings in the case;
- 2 -
Whereas, at this meeting, the Agent of South Africa indicated that his Government’s preference would be to have at its disposal a period of 12 months for the preparation of its Memorial from the date of the Order of 26 January 2024 indicating provisional measures, but that it would “place itself in the hands of the Court” regarding the matter; and whereas the Deputy Agent of Israel stated that, in the view of her Government, a period of six months would be appropriate for the preparation by each Party of its initial written pleading;
Taking into account the views expressed by the Parties, and considering that each Party should be given a period of nine months for the preparation of its respective pleading, with the first time period to be calculated as from 26 January 2024,
Fixes the following time-limits for the filing of the written pleadings:
28 October 2024 for the Memorial of the Republic of South Africa;
28 July 2025 for the Counter-Memorial of the State of Israel; and
Reserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
Done in English and in French, the English text being authoritative, at the Peace Palace, The Hague, this fifth day of April, two thousand and twenty-four, in three copies, one of which will be placed in the archives of the Court and the others transmitted to the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the State of Israel, respectively.
(Signed) Nawaf SALAM,
President.
(Signed) Philippe GAUTIER,
Registrar.
___________