NEW YORK: Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider the scale of damaged and destroyed housing in the Gaza Strip as part of the genocide case against Israel, Arab media reported on.
In a statement via social media, “The International Court of Justice should consider this as evidence of genocide acts when coupled with public remarks documented before it by South Africa,”.
The UN envoy cited analysis from the Decentralised Damage Mapping Group which found that as of January 5, 2024:
Between 45.3 to 55.9 percent of houses and buildings in Gaza were “destroyed”. Between 71.1 to 82.7 percent of houses, and buildings in northern Gaza were “likely damaged and destroyed”.
About 56% of houses in Gaza are destroyed or damaged. Northern Gaza is most heavily affected with upto 82% destroyed or damaged. ICJ should consider this as evidence of genocide when coupled with public statements documented before it by South Africa.https://t.co/zsC8GgHoUu
— UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing (@adequatehousing) January 10, 2024
Earlier, Pakistan, Maldives, and Namibia have joined the list of nations expressing support for the genocide case filed against Israel by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Arab media reported on Wednesday.
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The three nations each expressed their complete support for the case in speeches delivered during a UN General Assembly session.
Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN said in a statement via social media that Pakistan has welcomed South Africa’s effort to bring Israel’s transgressions under Genocide Convention to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It added Pakistan also looks forward to the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences arising from policies and practices of Israel in Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The health ministry in Gaza said more than 23,210 Palestinians mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza in the ongoing Israeli strikes since October 7. The ministry said in a statement that it had recorded 126 deaths in the past 24 hours. The ministry also reported that 59,167 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip during more than three months of relentless Israeli bombardments.
