In a sharp rebuttal, Israel accuses South Africa of defending Hamas by making false claims at ICJ

In a sharp rebuttal to South Africa’s allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel stated that the case is an “obscene exploitation” of the genocide convention. Israel went on to accuse South Africa of trying to defend Hamas militants instead of protecting Palestinian civilians.

Israel’s representatives told the court that the Jewish nation was fighting a war of “self-defence” and maintained that “it did not want and did not start”, The Guardian reported. The representatives also noted that Israel took “extraordinary” efforts to protect the lives of civilians that are stuck in the ongoing conflict.

“There is a tragic conflict going on, but no genocide,” Israel’s justice ministry official, Gilad Noam, told the court. He also urged the court to throw out South Africa’s request for a court  order to halt military operation in Rafah.

It is important to note that the hearing came a day after the Group of Seven nations, excluding the US, sent a joint letter urging Israel to comply with the International law in Gaza. Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Finland also signed the statement.

What are the both sides saying?

On Thursday, the South African side presented its case to the court yet again stating Palestinians stuck in the ongoing conflict had nowhere safe to flee due to the intense bombardment and ground campaign across Gaza.

Meanwhile, Noam said that the attack in Rafah is crucial to attack the battalions of Hamas militants that are operating in the region. Israel has pledged to destroy the group ever since the later conducted the October 7 massacre in southern Israel which ultimately triggered the ongoing war.

“Israel is acutely aware of the large number of civilians that are concentrated in Rafah. It is also acutely aware of Hamas’ efforts to use these civilians as a shield,” he said. He maintained that Israel had ordered evacuation to protect the civilians and accused South Africa of having ulterior motives.

“South Africa … has a clear ulterior motive when it asks you to order Israel to stay away from Rafah and to withdraw all its troops from Gaza,” Noam told the court. “It does so in order to obtain military advantage for its ally, Hamas.”

The Israeli representative also pointed out that the ICJ only hears cases between states, hence, it has no jurisdiction over Hamas. This would mean that if the court orders for a ceasefire, only Israel will be binding to comply with the orders. Noam insisted that this would deprive the Jewish nation of its right to self-defence.

At the end of the hearing, ICJ Judge Nolte asked Israel to provide more information about conditions in the designated evacuation zones and if there regions are providing the civilians with adequate food and shelter to Gazans stuck in the region.