Redefining the Genocidal Narrative: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the 2024 ICJ Speeches in the Genocide Case against Israel
Summary
This thesis critically examines the language employed in the 2024 International Court of Justice (ICJ) speeches concerning the genocide case against Israel, focusing on how these discourses construct a narrative of genocide within the Israel-Palestine conflict. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the speeches delivered by the South African legal counsels, the study explores how language is used to humanize Palestinians and portray their victimization. The research is grounded in the definitions of genocide as outlined in the Genocide Convention and operationalizes the concepts of individualization, victimization, and humanization to highlight the distinct language used that conveys the personal and collective suffering of Palestinians. Data for this study were collected from official transcripts and the video recording of the ICJ proceedings. The analysis involved both inductive and deductive coding, facilitated by the #LancsBox software, to uncover themes, linguistic patterns, and discursive strategies. The findings reveal that the South African legal counsels utilized specific nouns, adjectives, and verbs to create an emotional connection with individual Palestinian victims, contrasting sharply with the dehumanizing language used by Israeli officials. This study highlights key themes such as the juxtaposition of humanization versus dehumanization and the portrayal of victimization versus victimizing. The conclusions drawn from this analysis underscore the power of language in shaping legal and political narratives. The strategic linguistic choices made by the South African legal counsels were pivotal in framing Israel’s actions as genocidal and in advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people. This thesis contributes to a broader understanding of how legal discourse influences public perception and the role of international legal institutions in conflict resolution, particularly within the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict.