Opposition Senator Lambert Brown has called on Jamaica to “more loudly” support South Africa in the African country’s landmark case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
South Africa has accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, claiming it has breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, set up after World War II and the Holocaust.
In making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday, Brown asserted that Jamaica should more strongly condemn the alleged genocide.
“Today, the International Court of Justice made some provisional orders. This senator and all of us on this side support South Africa,” Brown declared.
“We support the South African call to end the genocide. We call for a ceasefire in Gaza, immediate ceasefire as we condemn the terrorist acts of October 7. I’m sorry, my friend Senator Hill is not here. But Senator Hill no black man, no black woman, no progressive government can but condemn the genocide in Israel, by Israel against the Palestinian people,” Brown continued. “Minister, my good friend, I hope to hear our voice, the voice of Jamaica, more loudly supporting South Africa; calling for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide.”
Hill, the minister of industry, investment, and commerce, has publicly declared his personal support for Israel in the conflict.
The ICJ on Friday ruled that Israel must take measures to prevent the killing of more Palestinian civilians in Gaza and to prevent acts of genocide, although the court stopped short of calling for a cease-fire.
While the ruling is not a verdict on whether Israel has committed genocide, the UN court ruled that it has jurisdiction to move forward with the case.
