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Uganda disowns ICJ Judge Julia Sebutinde for siding with Israel

Julia Sebutinde was the only permanent judge in the 17-member ICJ who voted against all six measures announced by the world court on the South African petition over Israeli genocide and massacre of the Palestinians in Gaza. Read More

Sunday January 28, 2024 11:23 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Kampala: Uganda has disowned and broken ties with Judge Julia Sebutinde, who voted against all interim measures announced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) pertaining to the South African petition which accused Israel of committing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

In a statement released a day after the landmark ruling by the top UN court, Uganda reiterated its support for the Palestinians and said Justice Sebutinde's stand at the ICJ did not represent the government.

“Justice Sebutinde ruling at the ICJ (the International Court of Justice) does not represent the Government of Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine,” Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, wrote on social media site X originally launched as Twitter.

“The government ceatgorically clarifies that the position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion”, he said.

“Uganda’s support for the plight of the Palestinian people has been expressed through our voting pattern at the United Nations”, he added.

Julia Sebutinde was the only permanent judge in the 17-member ICJ who voted against all six measures announced by the world court on the South African petition over Israeli genocide and massacre of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Notably, Israel lawyer Aharon Barak who was appointed as the Ad Hoc Judge ahead of the hearing on the South Africa petition at the ICJ did not oppose all the six measures. Aharon Barak voted against 04 of the measures while agreeing on 02.

Uganda official stand

In the statement, the Government of Uganda also reaffirmed its association with the decisions and potions of the recently concluded 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Kampala on 19-20 January 2024 as contained in the Kampala Final Outcome Declaration, and the Political Declaration on Palestine.

The declaration condemned the continuing Israeli military campaign against the defenceless Palestinians and deplored the largescale killings since Oct 7, 2023.

The declaration also called for an immediate end to the Israeli military aggression and siege on the Gaza Strip. The Kampala Declaration also called for immediate, unimpeded and sufficient humanitarian assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs of the Palestinian civilian population.

The NAM Declaration released in Kampala also rejected forcible deportation and transfer of the Palestinians from their homeland calling it grave violation of Geneva Convention.

Latest Update from Gaza

Meanwhile, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have not desisted from the massacre of the Palestinians. According to the latest update from Gaza, the Israeli army has killed over 170 civilians in the last 24 hours alone.

At least 26,257 people have been killed and 64,797 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. Over 7,000 Palestinians are under debris and presumed dead. According to the Health Ministry of Palestine, over 70% of those killed are women and children.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a landmark ruling Friday January 26, 2024 refused to dismiss the South Africa’s case accusing Israel of committing genocide and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza.

The ICJ further asked the Zionist regime in Israel to use all the power in its hand to prevent genocide of Palestinians, ensure aid in the besieged enclave and submit action taken report in a month.

 

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