South Africa accused Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for participating in "acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza," the court, the main judicial body of the United Nations, announced on Friday.
In its request, South Africa states that Israel's "acts and omissions are of a genocidal character, as they are accompanied by the requisite specific intent (...) to destroy the Palestinians of Gaza as part of the most of the Palestinians," the ICJ, based in The Hague, said in a statement.
"Israel rejects the blood libel spread by South Africa and its claim before the International Court of Justice, which lacks a factual and legal basis and constitutes a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the Court," responded Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat. , accusing the African country of "cooperating with a terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel."
"The terrorist group Hamas, which is committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and attempted to commit genocide on October 7, is responsible for the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by using them as human shields and stealing humanitarian aid sent to them. ", he added on the Finally, Haiat called on the "International Court of Justice and the international community to completely reject South Africa's unfounded claims," reports Sal Emergui.
The Hebrew state denies that its army is using disproportionate force in its war against the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.
The conflict was sparked by Hamas' bloody attack on Israel, which left some 1,140 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli figures.
The Islamist commandos also captured about 250 people and half are still held in the narrow Palestinian territory, according to Israeli authorities.
In response to the attack, Israel promised to "annihilate" Hamas and launched an intense air and ground offensive that has left at least 21,507 dead, mostly women and minors, according to the latest balance sheet from the Ministry of Health of Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007.
