TransparencyCourts & justice
ICJ twice extended Israel's deadline in South Africa's Gaza genocide case; final written pleadings now not due until 2029
Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesIsrael · Oct 12, 2026
Subject of this story
Government of Israel
Also named
Oversight
International Court of Justice
Advocate
South Africa
What happened
South Africa filed its Memorial on 28 October 2024 in its case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. Israel's Counter-Memorial, originally due 28 July 2025, was extended by the Court to 12 January 2026 and then, by an order of 20 October 2025, to 12 March 2026; Israel filed it on 12 March 2026 and, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry, it includes an objection to the Court's jurisdiction. By an order of 21 May 2026 the Court fixed 22 November 2027 for South Africa's Reply and 22 May 2029 for Israel's Rejoinder. The Court has not ruled on the merits, and no date has been set for oral hearings. Israel denies the allegations.
By the numbers (2)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
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By Order dated 20 October 2025 the ICJ President extended to 12 March 2026 the time-limit for Israel's Counter-Memorial.
1 source
- International Court of Justice (order fixing time-limit, 20 October 2025) — International Court of Justice (order fixing time-limit, 20 October 2025)Document
extended to 12 March 2026 the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial of Israel
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The ICJ fixed 22 May 2029 as the time-limit for Israel's Rejoinder, and 22 November 2027 for South Africa's Reply.
1 source
- International Court of Justice (order fixing time-limits for Reply and Rejoinder, 21 May 2026) — International Court of Justice (order fixing time-limits for Reply and Rejoinder, 21 May 2026)Document
22 May 2029 as the time-limit for the filing of a Rejoinder by Israel
Sources (3)
International Court of Justice (order fixing time-limit, 20 October 2025)By an Order dated 20 October 2025, the President of the Court extended to 12 March 2026 the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial of Israel.
International Court of Justice (order fixing time-limits for Reply and Rejoinder, 21 May 2026)Order fixing 22 November 2027 as the time-limit for the filing of a Reply by South Africa, and 22 May 2029 as the time-limit for the filing of a Rejoinder by Israel.
Daily MaverickA ruling on the merits of the case is probably still several years away... the Bosnia and Herzegovina v Serbia and Montenegro case took 14 years, from 1993 to 2007.
Response
Government of Israel
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What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.