Renowned actor Charles Dance, known for his role in the television series ‘Game of Thrones,’ took part in a significant initiative where prominent actors read excerpts from South Africa’s case filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The ICJ proceedings at The Hague were allegedly subject to censorship by Western media.
Dance’s fellow actors, including Carice van Houten, Liam Cunningham, and Lena Headey, joined him in reading key points from South Africa’s case through a series of videos, expressing solidarity with South Africa’s accusations against Israel.
With the support of over 50 countries, South Africa filed a lawsuit at the ICJ in December 2023 in response to Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic death of more than 20,000 Palestinians and the displacement of thousands more. The legal action urged judges to impose emergency measures compelling Israel to immediately cease its offensive.
The lawsuit contends that Israel’s aerial and ground offensive, causing significant destruction to the narrow coastal enclave and a reported death toll exceeding 23,000 people according to Gaza health authorities, seeks the “destruction of the population” of Gaza.
The 1948 Genocide Convention, established in the aftermath of the Holocaust, defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
Since the initiation of Israeli forces’ offensive, nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced at least once, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
Post-apartheid South Africa has consistently advocated for the Palestinian cause, a connection rooted in the historical support of Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organisation during the African National Congress’ struggle against white-minority rule.
