‘South Africa’s charges are without foundation,’ says the UN. according to Israel Katz
On Friday, Israel’s foreign minister expressed hope that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will reject South Africa’s petition accusing his government of genocide in Gaza.
Since Hamas’s cross-border offensive on October 7, Israel has continued to strike the Gaza Strip, killing over 23,000 Palestinians, destroying infrastructure, and inflicting food, water, and medication shortages.
South Africa filed its action in December, claiming that Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. It filed an 84-page petition with the court documenting events in Gaza that it claims amount to genocide.
On Thursday, the court in The Hague heard South Africa’s claims, while Israel defended its actions on Friday, and the two-day session concluded.
Katz stated in a statement that some countries have “double standards” when it comes to Israel, adding that “there is no basis for South Africa’s allegations” and that “no evidence has been presented for that, but only evidence of an unparalleled moral defensive war.”
Katz pointed out that “South Africa itself is violating the Genocide Convention by supporting Hamas, which calls for the elimination of the state of Israel.”
“I called the legal adviser of the Foreign Ministry to thank him and the members of the Israeli legal team for their impressive appearance, which undermined all of South Africa’s hypocritical arguments, and revealed its true face as a loyal representative of a terrorist organization that slaughters children, women, and adults inhumanely,” he said.
“I hope that the complaint will be completely dismissed and I believe that justice will prevail.”​​​​​​​