As UN court prepares to hear genocide claim against Israel, Canada still hasn't taken a position

The Canadian government still hasn't taken a position on South Africa's claim that Israel's military action in Gaza is «genocidal in character» as the United Nations' main judicial body prepares to hear arguments on the case.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to start hearing arguments from South Africa on Thursday, followed by arguments from Israel on Friday.

CBC News asked Global Affairs Canada (GAC) if the government would be taking a stance on the case but wasn't given a response by time of publication. A department spokesperson told CBC News earlier this week that the government is «following the situation closely.»

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza following Hamas's brutal Oct. 7 attack that left roughly 1,200 Israeli citizens dead. The military response has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

In its submission to the court, South Africa alleges that Israel is violating the UN Genocide Convention by failing to provide essential food, water, medicine, fuel, shelter and other humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip over the past three months. It also points to the sustained bombing campaign, which has destroyed much of the enclave and forced the evacuation of some 1.9 million Palestinians.

Mona Abuamara, chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada, called on Canada to back South Africa's case at the ICJ.

«We have seen the normalization of such atrocities, that the human value of life for a Palestinian became a lesser interest to the international community than it should be,» she said earlier Wednesday.

The Israeli government has vigorously condemned South Africa's submission to the ICJ.

Israeli President Isaac