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Israel calls ICJ genocide case "one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history"
The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized South Africa in response to the International Court of Justice case that South Africa brought forth accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
"Today we were witness to one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history, compounded by a series of false and baseless claims," Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for the ministry, said on X, formerly Twitter.
Haiat accused South Africa of "functioning as the legal arm of the Hamas" and ignoring the massacre carried out by the militant group in Israel on October 7.
"South Africa seeks to allow Hamas to return to commit the war crimes," Haiat claimed.
Smotrich slams South Africa’s genocide case as ‘hypocritical debate’
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the case brought forward by South Africa in The Hague, alleging genocide carried out by Israel, is hypocritical.
“The Hague Court, like other international tribunals, are political bodies plagued with anti-semitism and are exposed time and time again in stunning shows of hypocrisy,” he said.
“The countries that sent the judges to the Hague are being exposed today in all their hypocrisy. Somalia, Uganda, Lebanon and other countries that ‘care’ for the people of Gaza – all you need to do to assist them is to open the gates of your countries, allow those who want to get out of Hamas prison in Gaza and take them in your countries.”
So his argument is, it wouldn't be genocide if you would help us ethnically cleanse the territory....
Addressing the various charges of hypocrisy that have been laid against South Africa, including why it has not also brought a charge of genocide against Hamas, Lowe explained this is a matter for the International Criminal Court – and not the ICJ.
“Hamas is not a state and cannot be a party to the genocide convention, and cannot be a party to these proceedings,” Lowe said. Whereas the ICJ hears cases brought by states accusing others of violating their UN treaty obligations, the ICC tries individuals for crimes including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Gaza residents surprised their plight has brought global attention
The South African lawyers have spoken to the Gazans’ hearts and minds, carefully describing in detail what is happening here.
Their account is consistent with what we have been reporting since the start of this war. House-by-house attacks, people displaced from one evacuation centre to another, people being sent to safe areas and then being bombed, using starvation as a method of war.
People here are quite hopeful now, despite knowing the fact that once this case reaches the UN Security Council, the US is likely to veto it.
The level of details told at the court has made everyone here hopeful. There are people who still believe in justice and there are people who are speaking the hearts and minds of what’s going on.
