On Friday, legal advisor to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tal Becker, stated during the opening of the second day of hearings at the International Court of Justice that "Israel's military operations in Gaza are acts of self-defense against Hamas and other terrorist organizations." The advisor remarked, "South Africa presented a grossly distorted narrative yesterday when it accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza." He added, "If there is genocide occurring, it has been committed against Israel."
Becker emphasized that "South Africa's call for an immediate halt to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza would leave Israel unable to defend itself," and thus, the request and the petition should be dismissed for their defamatory implications. He continued, "Hamas seeks to commit genocide against Israel."
For his part, Israeli attorney Malcolm Shaw stated, "Israel has not had the 'specific intent' needed to commit crimes under the genocide convention." The attorney added, "This is not genocide. South Africa is only telling us half the story."
The International Court of Justice began the second day of hearings today in a case where South Africa is demanding an immediate halt to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, claiming that "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians." The highest court of the United Nations is scheduled to hear Israel's response to the accusations made by South Africa yesterday.
