The list of jury members examining South Africa’s genocide case against Israel includes prominent Moroccan Judge Mohamed Bennouna.
The case is seen as one of the few available opportunities to prove Israel’s direct involvement in genocidal crimes against Palestinians since the launch of its devastating war on October 7.
The public hearings in the case will start tomorrow. The case sparked hope among pro-Palestinian activists, who are anxiously awaiting positive development against Israel’s direct involvement in genocidal crimes targeting defenseless and unarmed civilians– including women and children.
In the case, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in contravention of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
To date, Israeli occupation forces murdered more than 23,200 Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Over 60,000 others were injured, while nearly 7,500 others are missing or still under the rubble.
As the international community is awaiting the much-anticipated court’s verdict, many individuals have been circulating the list of the judges examining the case.
The list featured Bennouna, who was a member of the Wold’s court since February 2006. He was then re-elected as of February 2015.
More on the Moroccan judge
The judge, who is a doctor and professor of international law, holds a diploma from the Hague Academy of International Law.
Bennouna’s portfolio reflects a significant history in the field of law.
Bennouna held several positions, including permanent representative of Morocco to the UN from 2001-2006. He also served as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, in the Hague from 1998-2001.
From 1991-1998, Bennouna was the Director General of the Arab World Institute in Paris. He was also a judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice in the Benin-Niger Frontier Dispute case from 2002-2005.
Bennouna’s portfolio also includes his membership of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee between 1992-1998, as well as the UNESCO International Panel on Democracy and Development between 1997 and 2002.
Bennouna further served as the Chairman of a panel of the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva between 1992 and 1995, in addition to his membership of the United Nations International Law Commission between 1986 and 1998.
