today accusing Israel of committing# genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

It's a rare case and could drag on for years.

But, as Nick Schifrin reports, South# Africa is requesting a which could have far-ranging implications# for Israel and the United States.

NICK SCHIFRIN: In the depths of Gaza's despair,## South Africa accuses Israel of what's# been ADILA HASSIM, South African Lawyer: The actions## show a systematic pattern of conduct# from w NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, South Africa asked# the International Court of Justice to## compel Israel to stop the war and what# it called decades of VUSIMUZI MADONSELA, South African Ambassador# to the Netherlands: The application places## Israel's genocidal act WOMAN: The Draft Convention on Genocide is# being presented to the General Assembly today.

NICK SCHIFRIN: It was 75 years ago last month# that the U.N. adopted the Genocide Convention,## the first human rights treaty.

It was# born out of the Nazis' Final Solution,## a campaign of systemic murder that helped# lead to the birth of the state of Israel.

The convention defines genocide as "acts committed# with intent to destroy, in whole or in part,## a national, ethnical, racial, or religious# group," and cites as examples killing,## injuring, inflicting conditions calculated# to bring about physical destruction,## preventing births, or transferring children.

TEMBEKA NGCUKAITOBI, South African Lawyer: Israel# in Gaza.

That is evident from the way in which# Israel's military attack is being conducted,## the mass displacement of the population of# Gaza herded into areas where they continue## to be killed, and the deliberate creation of# conditions that could lead to a slow death.

NICK SCHIFRIN: South Africa also accuses# Israel of declaring its own genocidal intent.

ISAAC HERZOG, Israeli President: This# rhetoric about civilians not aware,## not involved, it's absolutely not true.

And# we will fight until we break their backbone.

YOAV GALLANT, Israeli Defense Minister# (through translator): We are ordering## a comp no fuel.

Everything is closed.

We are fighting# human animals, and we are acting accordingly.

ISAAC HERZOG: There is nothing more# atrocious and preposterous than this claim.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Israel dismisses the# lawsuit as a blood libel.

Israel argues## it's Hamas that started the current# round of violence on October the 7th,## and it's Hamas charter that vows to -- quote# -- "obliterate Israel" on behalf of Islam.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister# (through translator): The state of Israel## is accused carried out the worst crime against the Jewish# people since the Holocaust, and now someone comes## to defend it in the name of the Holocaust.# What brazen gall.

The world is upside down.

NICK SCHIFRIN: This week, Secretary of# State Antony Blinken backed Israel's case.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State:# The charge of genocide is meritl OONA HATHAWAY, Yale Law School: Every stat party right to raise concerns when they think# that that convention is being violated.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Oona Hathaway is professor# of international law at Yale Law School.## She says the court only has to rule South# Africa has shown reasonable probability## of genocide to impose orders on# Israel that could affect the U.S. OONA HATHAWAY: The U.S., as a member# of the Genocide Convention itself,## its own legal obligations will kick# in, and it is prohibited from aiding## and assisting in genocide.

But it's also actually# positively obligated to act to prevent genocide.

And so this is going to make continuing# military support, certainly for Israel,## maybe even foreign assistance of various# kinds to Israel, quite difficult.

NELSON MANDELA, Former South African# President: We identify with the PLO,## because, just like ourselves, they are# fighting for the right of self-determination.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) Former President Nelson Mandela# was close to Palestine Liberation## Organization founder Yasser Arafat.# Before that, Israel supported and# even negotiated providing nuclear weapons# to South Africa's apartheid government.

In 1999 in the West Bank, Mandela advocated# for a Palestinian state by any means necessary.

NELSON MANDELA: If the only alternative# is violence, we will use violence.