The UN's International Court of Justice is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, APA reports citing BBC.
The submission also calls on the court to order Israel to stop military operations there.
The ICJ will deliver only an opinion on the genocide allegation as the case is not a criminal trial, although it is being closely watched.
Israel has vehemently rejected the accusation as "baseless".
South Africa will present its case on Thursday and Israel its defence on Friday.
In its submission, South Africa says Israel's actions "are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group".
It calls for "provisional measures" to be implemented by the court as a matter of urgency, including that Israel cease all military activities in Gaza.
Israel has defended its actions in Gaza, saying it is responding to Hamas's deadly attacks on 7 October, but speaking in court on Thursday, South Africa's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said no attack "can provide justification for or defend breaches of the [Genocide] Convention".
Israel is a signatory to the Genocide Convention of 1948, which defines genocide and commits states to prevent it.
The ICJ is the UN's top court, based in the Hague in the Netherlands. Its rulings are theoretically legally binding on parties to the ICJ - which include Israel and South Africa - but are not enforceable.