Israel rejects “with disgust” the accusations of “acts of genocide” in its war in Gaza brought against it by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “South Africa’s assertions are devoid of factual and legal basis and constitute a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the Court,” adds the Hebrew State.
Israel rejects “with disgust” the accusations of “acts of genocide” in its war in Gaza brought against it by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “Israel rejects with disgust the defamation (…) spread by South Africa and its appeal to the International Court of Justice,” ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat said on X (formerly Twitter).
Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa in its application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
South Africa’s claim lacks both a factual and a legal basis, and constitutes a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the Court.
South Africa… pic.twitter.com/dqyhY8WYE0
— Lior Haiat (@LiorHaiat) December 29, 2023
The ICJ, the main judicial body of the United Nations, announced Friday that South Africa had submitted a request to it accusing Israel of engaging in “acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.” In its application, South Africa asserts that Israel’s “acts and omissions are genocidal in nature, as they are accompanied by the required specific intent…to destroy the Palestinians of Gaza as a party of the broader national, racial and ethnic group of Palestinians,” the Hague-based ICJ said in a statement.
“South Africa cooperates with a terrorist organization”
According to the country, “by its conduct – through its organs and agents and other persons and entities acting on its instructions or under its direction, control or influence – towards the Palestinians in Gaza, Israel fails to fulfill its obligations under the Genocide Convention,” the ICJ said. “South Africa’s assertions are devoid of factual and legal basis and constitute a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the Court,” said the Israeli spokesperson.
“South Africa is cooperating with a terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel,” he added. He urged “the ICJ and the international community to completely reject South Africa’s baseless accusations.”