Itamaraty's note also mentions the release of Hamas hostages; Court ruled that Israel must take measures to prevent “genocide.”
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a notice on Friday evening (January 26, 2024) in which it mentioned the “importance of full and immediate compliance” with the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in connection with the process initiated by South Africa in connection with the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The note from Itamaraty also speaks of the need to release hostages held by the extremist group Hamas. Here is the full document (PDF 160 kB).
The Lula government also said it “reaffirms the defense of an economically viable Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders, which include the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as East Jerusalem.” its capital.”
“The Brazilian government is convinced that the precautionary measures will help ensure compliance with the Convention and the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the necessary and immediate humanitarian assistance, and lead to an immediate cessation of hostilities,” the note says.
On Tuesday (January 23), the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) issued another note declaring that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip could stop the escalation of hostilities in Middle Eastern countries.
However, in the 250word text, Itamaraty did not mention that it was Hamas that started the conflict on October 7 and that it still holds at least 130 hostages held on Israeli soil to this day. You can find the full statement here (PDF 151 kB).
THE HAGUE DECISION
The court ruled on Friday (January 26) that Israel must take a series of measures to prevent “genocidal” practices in the Gaza Strip. Here is the full text (PDF 299 kB, in English).
Judge Joan Donoghue, president of the court, assured that the court had jurisdiction over the matter and rejected Israel's request to dismiss the case. However, the decision does not order a ceasefire in the conflict.
SOUTH AFRICAN INITIATIVE
On January 10, the Lula government declared its support for South Africa's initiative to appeal to the United Nations International Court of Justice to investigate “acts and measures that may constitute genocide or related crimes” and for the immediate cessation of Israeli fire to establish the Gaza Strip.
Lula made this decision after a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben. Here is the full official communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PDF 154 kB).
The initiative was presented on December 29, 2023. It concerns alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The ICJ is the United Nations' most important judicial body. It is responsible for settling disputes between states. It is located in The Hague (Netherlands). However, it is not the same as the ICC (International Criminal Court), which is also located in the same city and is commonly referred to as the Hague Court.
UNDERSTAND WHAT GENOCIDE IS
The word “genocide” has been heard a lot in Brazilian political news recently, especially due to the pandemic. Governments and politicians have been labeled genocidal for not following recommended standard operating procedures to combat the coronavirus.
It turns out that irresponsibility or making decisions that defy common sense in public health or in places of armed conflict does not constitute genocide if you consider the true meaning of the term. O Power360 wrote a report on what genocide is (read here).
The word genocide appeared in 1944 during World War II. It was created by lawyer Raphael Lemkin (19001959), a Polish Jew, to conceptualize the abuses suffered by victims of the Nazi government. It comes from the combination of Genos, a Greek word meaning “tribe,” and Cide, a Latin term meaning “to kill.”
According to Michael Freitas Mohallem, professor at the PUCRio Law Institute, “genocide is the act of destroying an ethnic or religious group, but it has an important element, namely the intention of an agent to exterminate a specific group.” In short, whoever commits genocide , must do it too intentionally wanting to eradicate a population group.
In 1948, the definition of genocide as a crime began when the UN held an event on the subject, the Convention for the Prevention and Suppression of the Crime of Genocide. Within the framework of international law, the organization's member countries undertake to monitor and punish possible perpetrators.