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Truth in a Haystack
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“The ICJ did NOT find that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza — not even a "plausible" one”

Verdict: TRUE Major Claim

True. The ICJ's then-president, Joan Donoghue, said in April 2024 that the court did not decide the genocide claim was plausible; it found that Palestinians have plausible rights to protection from genocide, and ordered provisional measures. The case (South Africa v. Israel) has not been decided on the merits.

Where this claim comes from

Kosher (@koshercockney) (Nov 16, 2025; ~145,000 views) shared a clip of former ICJ president Joan Donoghue on BBC HARDtalk: "The ICJ did NOT find that there was a Genocide in Gaza, not even a 'PLAUSIBLE' one."

Joan Donoghue on BBC HARDtalk (April 2024), from the clip shared by @koshercockney.

What the court actually decided

  • In January 2024 the court found that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa — Palestinians' right to be protected from acts of genocide — were plausible, and ordered Israel to take provisional measures.
  • Donoghue, who presided, said in April 2024 that the court did not decide that the claim of genocide was plausible, and that "there's a plausible case of genocide" is a shorthand that misstates the ruling. (UKLFI; Rozenberg; Jewish Chronicle)
  • The case has not been decided on the merits. No court has found that Israel is — or is not — committing genocide.

Ratings of the parts of this claim

  • The ICJ did not find a genocide — True (no ruling on the merits).
  • The ICJ did not find genocide "plausible" — True, per the court's then-president; it found plausible rights to protection.

See also: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Scale and intent — side by side

October 7 (Hamas): about 770–840 civilians killed in one day. Intent to kill civilians is documented — in Hamas's written orders ("kill as many people as possible"), its fighters' own footage, and its leaders' statements.

Gaza (Israel): civilian deaths in the tens of thousands over two years (the civilian share is disputed, roughly 60% to 83%). Israel's stated aim is to destroy Hamas; warnings and large aid volumes are documented, and several incidents have been acknowledged by the IDF as errors. Intent to kill civilians is alleged, and has not been established by any court.

Both facts matter, and neither cancels the other. Every party's alleged crimes, on one scale: War Crimes Ledger.

Sources & References

Related Events

November 16, 2025
Viral Post: "The ICJ Did NOT Find a Genocide — Not Even a Plausible One"