Israel to go to international court to reject 'genocide' accusations in Gaza

Israel will go to the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands to challenge accusations of "genocide" in Gaza in a case filed by South Africa.

"Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to refute South Africa's grotesque bloody smear," Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said today. "We assure the South African leadership that history will judge you and judge you mercilessly."

The comments came after South Africa filed a lawsuit with the ICJ on December 29, claiming that Israel violated its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adding that Israel acted with the aim of "destroying the Palestinian people in Gaza".

South Africa also asked the ICJ to take measures to protect the Palestinian people from serious and irreparable harm caused by Israeli military operations. According to Israeli broadcaster KAN , Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials had intense discussions on the issue.

"Israel has been a party to the genocide convention for decades. We certainly do not boycott the process, but must stand up and refute the bloody accusations against us," Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said late on January 1.

The Haaretz daily reported that the Israeli military and the country's attorney general's office have begun discussions on how to handle the ICJ case.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv on December 31, 2023. Photo: AFP — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv on December 31, 2023. Photo: *AFP*

The ICJ, the United Nations' supreme judicial body, is the world's top court for resolving legal disputes between nations over alleged violations of international law. The ICJ's rulings are binding, but it has no means of ensuring enforcement. In some past cases, the defendant has ignored the court's rulings.

South Africa has long maintained a pro-Palestinian stance. South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party often likens the Palestinian struggle to the African nation's own anti-apartheid struggle.

Pretoria has sharply criticised Tel Aviv's campaign in the Gaza Strip and recalled all its diplomats from Israel. Israel has also recalled its ambassador to South Africa. In November, South Africa and four other countries - Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros and Djibouti - called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7, after the armed group that controls Gaza launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, causing heavy casualties. Gaza's health authorities said the fighting had killed 22,185 people and injured 57,035, mostly women and children, as of January 2. Israel argued that Gaza officials' statistics did not distinguish between civilian and Hamas casualties.

Commercial satellite imagery analyzed by the US Wall Street Journal last month showed that nearly 70% of the 439,000 homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged since Israel began its offensive against Hamas.

Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, Anadolu Agency )

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