Israel defended its assault in Rafah before the International Court of Justice on Friday, stating that it is acting in self-defense against Hamas fighters. It requested judges to reject South Africa's plea for an order for Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Israel criticized the case brought by South Africa before the United Nations' International Court of Justice, describing it as "entirely divorced" from reality, with Pretoria urging the judges to issue a ceasefire order in Gaza.
Gilad Noam, Israel's chief lawyer, told the International Court of Justice that "South Africa is presenting a completely detached image of the facts and circumstances for the fourth time." Noam deemed the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as "tragic," but not classified as "genocide," stating, "There is a tragic war underway, but there is no genocide."
Pretoria had called on the International Court to order Israel to halt its assault on Rafah, which Israel claims is necessary to eradicate Hamas. Israel previously asserted its "steadfast" commitment to upholding international law, considering South Africa's case "entirely baseless" and "morally abhorrent."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a large ground offensive in Rafah, considered the last stronghold of Hamas, is essential to eliminate the group. Israel announced on Thursday that it would "intensify" its ground operations in Rafah despite international warnings against launching a large-scale attack on the densely populated city in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu asserted that Israel has avoided a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Rafah, stating in a release from his office: "So far, nearly half a million people have been evacuated from combat areas in Rafah, where the humanitarian catastrophe they spoke of has not occurred, and it will not happen."
For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant announced that military operations in Rafah "will continue with the entry of additional forces." On Thursday, the International Court of Justice in The Hague heard from lawyers representing Pretoria who discussed mass graves, torture, and deliberate obstruction of aid entering the Gaza Strip.
The lead lawyer representing South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, stated: "South Africa hoped, when we last appeared before this court, to put an end to this genocide to protect Palestine and its people," adding, "But instead, Israeli extermination has continued to accelerate and has just reached a new and horrific stage."
