Kobbi Shoshani, Israel’s Consul General, has expressed disappointment over Ireland’s decision to join South Africa in supporting a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He criticized the move, questioning the message it conveys amidst ongoing violence against Israeli civilians, including acts of murder and kidnapping.
Speaking to ANI, Shoshani remarked:
“You know you cannot disregard the murder, butcher, kidnap, rape, Israeli civilians and go to the court. What message do you send to the world, what message do you send to your own people, what message do you send to the terrorist you have to remember that. It can be internal politics. I am very sad about it. I definitely don’t understand the decision.”
Shoshani also highlighted the importance of achieving peace and stability in the region. He added:
“The aim is to bring security, safety, peace and prosperity to the Middle East, and the American Ambassador spoke about it in a very clear voice and that’s our aim.”
Ireland recently joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, the ICJ revealed on Tuesday. According to a CNN report, the ICJ confirmed Ireland’s intervention on Monday, joining countries like Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, Libya, Bolivia, Turkey, the Maldives, Chile, Spain, and the State of Palestine in the case.
In its declaration, Ireland argued:
“Ireland respectfully submits that the perpetrator does not need to have, as his or her purpose, the commission of the crime of genocide when committing any one or more of the material elements of the crime. The crime may also be committed where a perpetrator – regardless of his or her purpose – knows (or should know) that the natural and probable consequence of these acts is either to destroy or contribute to the destruction of the protected group … and proceeds regardless,” CNN reported.
South Africa initiated the case in December 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In January 2024, the ICJ issued an interim ruling acknowledging a plausible risk of genocide in the enclave and directed Israel to take provisional measures to prevent genocidal acts. A subsequent emergency application from South Africa regarding Israel’s threat to attack Rafah was rejected by the court in March.
