Who is Adila Hassim: As part of the ongoing proceedings, Adila Hassim has claimed that some of his actions in the Gaza Strip constitute “acts of genocide.” These charged were presented in order to increase scrutiny of Israel’s conduct during its conflict with Hamas.
Who is lawyer Adila Hassim representing South Africa at the ICJ
Adila Hassim has extensive experience in socio-economic rights and health litigation, having graduated from the University of Natal and St. Louis University School of Law.
Adila Hassim is a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, holding BA, LLB, LLM, and JSD degrees.
Her areas of practice include constitutional law, administrative law, health law, and competition law. She has appeared before various divisions of the High Courts and the Constitutional Court.
With Mark Heywood and Jonathan Berger, she co-edited Health & Democracy: A Guide to Human Rights and Health Law and Policy in Post-apartheid South Africa.
"Hundreds of multi generational [Palestinian] families have been wiped out… this killing is nothing short of destruction of Palestinian life. It is inflicted deliberately, no-one is spared, not even new born babies"
Adila Hassim speaking at the ICJ in the Hague pic.twitter.com/igxvx0PqoM
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) January 11, 2024
Adila Hassim specializes in socio-economic rights litigation as a Counsel at Thulamela Chambers. His influential role in the Life Esidimeni arbitration has given him insight into the challenges of engaging with state officials and the legal constraints vulnerable groups face.
In her clerkship with Judge Pius Langa, she developed a strong commitment to policy, law, and health intersections. As a co-editor of publications like “Health & Democracy: A Guide to Human Rights and Health Law and Policy in Post-apartheid South Africa,” Hassim has contributed significantly to the field.
Additionally, she co-founded Corruption Watch and serves on its board of directors, demonstrating her commitment to broader justice issues. As a key figure in advancing knowledge and advocacy in health and social justice, Hassim was able to share her insights at the 2019 David Sanders Lecture, supported by the NRF/DST/UWC Research Chair in Health Systems, Complexity, and Social Change.
According to her, Israel has violated Article II of the convention by engaging in actions indicating a systematic pattern of conduct, inferring genocide.
Her argument centers around the threat of Israeli weaponry, bombings, starvation, and disease to Gaza’s Palestinian population as a result of destroying towns and limiting aid access.
Hassim pointed out the dire conditions facing the population, stating, “They are also at immediate risk of death from starvation and disease.”.
She argued that the court does not need to decide whether Israel’s conduct constitutes genocide unequivocally; instead, she suggested considering whether some acts are consistent with the convention’s provisions. She emphasized that at least some, if not all, of Israel’s actions in Gaza fall within the convention’s provisions, implicating the country in severe violations.
Further, Hashim argued that Israel deliberately imposed conditions in Gaza to cause its inhabitants to be physically destroyed. The Palestinian population is already facing challenging circumstances due to deliberate restrictions on aid distribution. According to the lawyer, such deliberate measures make Gaza residents’ lives impossible.
Violations of international humanitarian law may have serious legal consequences for nations involved in conflicts. South Africa accuses Israel-Palestine conflict from a fresh perspective.
[FULL VIDEO] South African lawyer Adila Hassim presents the opening argument to the #ICJ, outlining the 4 genocidal acts committed by Israel:
1. Israel's mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza
2. Israel’s infliction of serious bodily or mental harm to Palestinians in Gaza
3.… pic.twitter.com/QFbxzbVzik
— In Context (@incontextmedia) January 11, 2024
