Israel Will Defend Itself Against Genocide Accusations

Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to defend itself against South Africa’s accusation that it has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, an Israeli government spokesman says.

South Africa submitted an 84 page document to the ICJ on Friday, accusing Israel of committing acts that are “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.”

South African government lawyers are preparing for the case to be heard on 11 and 12 January, Clayson Monyela, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said on X.

The ICJ is the UN’s highest court and is responsible for settling disputes between nations and give advisory opinions on international legal issues. It does not have the power to bring prosecutions. However, its opinions carry weight with the UN and other international legal bodies.

Eylon Levy, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accused South Africa of giving “political and legal cover” to the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel.

“The state of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice at The Hague to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel,” Eylon Levy said.

Israel rarely cooperates in international court cases against it. In the past, it has dismissed United Nations and international tribunals as unfair and biased. The sudden decision to respond to these accusations may be a sign that the Israeli government is concerned about its reputation.

Tags: Israel Palestine South Africa