Israel rejects genocide accusations brought by SA

Beirut, Jan 13: Israel presented its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday (local time), and rejected allegations of genocide levelled by South Africa in connection with the ongoing war in Gaza, CNN reported.

In a heated two-day hearing, Israel argued that if genocidal acts had occurred, they “had been perpetrated against Israel.”

Representing Israel, Tal Becker addressed the court, sharing multimedia, oral, and written evidence of the alleged atrocities committed by Hamas militants on October 7. While acknowledging the horror of the situation, Becker emphasised that Israel’s actions were within the bounds of defending its citizens and territory.

He said Israel felt “compelled to share with the court some fraction of [October 7’s] horror,” but stressed it knew this did not justify violations of the law in reply, as reported by CNN.

“We do so not because these acts, however sadistic and systematic, release Israel of its obligations to uphold the law as it defends its citizens and territory–that is unquestionable, said Becker, adding, “We do so because it is impossible to understand the armed conflict in Gaza without appreciating the nature of the threat that Israel is facing and the brutality and lawlessness of the armed force confronting it.”

Becker argued that Hamas’ acts on October 7 were genocidal, citing evidence of the group’s leaders expressing an “agenda of annihilation.” He highlighted the repeated use of “annihilationist language” in Hamas’ charter and statements by its leaders.

“The annihilationist language of Hamas’ charter is repeated regularly by its leaders, with the goal, in the words of one member of Hamas’ political bureau, of ‘the cleansing of Palestine of the filth of the Jews,’” Becker said.