Israel has promised to appear in court to fight South Africa’s claim that it is committing “genocidal” acts in Gaza.
South Africa filed a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last Friday, claiming that Israel is violating the Genocide Convention in its war with Hamas in Gaza.
The Presidency said in a statement on Friday that the country was obliged “to prevent genocide from occurring”.
“South Africa is gravely concerned with the plight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants,” it said.
“Furthermore, there are ongoing reports of international crimes, such as crimes against humanity and war crimes, being committed as well as reports that acts meeting the threshold of genocide or related crimes… have been and may still be committed in the context of the ongoing massacres in Gaza.”
Responding to the allegations on Monday, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy told South Africa’s leaders that “history will judge you, and it will judge you without mercy”.
Confirming their intention to fight the accusation in court, Levy promised “to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel”.
South Africa is preparing its lawyers to appear at the ICJ, the United Nation’s highest court, on 11 and 12 January. They will appear in court in the Hague, the Netherlands.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Scenes of destruction in Gaza following Israeli airstrikes.
Image source: X
