Voice 9, International Desk: Israel stood ready to defend itself at the highest U.N. tribunal on Thursday, countering allegations of genocide in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected calls by some right-wing ministers to permanently occupy the enclave for the first time. As Israel's conflict with Hamas militants continued in Gaza, the International Court of Justice in the Hague was poised to conduct two days of hearings in response to a case initiated by South Africa in December, asserting that the war violates the 1948 Genocide Convention.
"The
State of Israel will present its case before the International Court of Justice
to refute South Africa's baseless accusation, as Pretoria provides political
and legal support to the Hamas regime," stated Israeli government
spokesperson Eylon Levy. The hearings will specifically address South Africa's
plea for an immediate order for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza
while the court, also known as the World Court, deliberates on the merits of
the case—a process that could extend over several years.
Colombia and
Brazil voiced their endorsement of South Africa's position late on Wednesday.
Israel initiated its offensive following a cross-border rampage by Hamas
fighters on Oct. 7, during which Israel claims 1,200 individuals were killed
and 240 were abducted. Subsequently, Israeli forces have caused extensive
destruction in Gaza, leading to the displacement of nearly all of its 2.3
million inhabitants at least once, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. The
death toll among Palestinians has surpassed 23,000.
While the
United States dismissed South Africa's genocide allegations, it urged Israel to
take further measures to safeguard Palestinian civilians. "Allegations of
Israel committing genocide are unsubstantiated," remarked State Department
spokesperson Matt Miller in a statement. "In reality, those who are
violently attacking Israel continue to openly advocate for the annihilation of
Israel and the mass murder of Jews."
Miller
defended Israel's "right to defend itself against Hamas' terrorist
activities," while emphasizing that Israel must "adhere to
international humanitarian law" and "explore additional avenues to
minimize harm to civilians and investigate credible reports of violations of
international humanitarian law as they arise."
On the eve
of the hearings, Netanyahu opposed the calls from right-wing members of his
government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for Palestinians to voluntarily vacate Gaza, thereby
allowing Israelis to settle in the region. Although this stance has been
Israel's official policy, Netanyahu's previous statements regarding the
permanent occupation of Gaza have been inconsistent and occasionally ambiguous.
"I want
to unequivocally clarify a few points: Israel has no intention of permanently
occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population," Netanyahu conveyed
on the social media platform X. Perhaps strategically timed before the court
hearings, he added, "Israel is combating Hamas terrorists, not the
Palestinian populace, and we are doing so in complete compliance with
international law."
