Israel legal team responded on Friday to South Africa’s accusations at the UN’s highest court regarding its military actions against Hamas in Gaza. South Africa had alleged that Israel’s response to Hamas’s October 7 terror attack constituted a state-led genocidal campaign with the aim of eradicating the Palestinian population. Israel’s Foreign Ministry legal adviser, addressing the second day of hearings, criticized South Africa for presenting a “grossly distorted story” with carefully selected allegations. He strongly refuted the claim, asserting that if there were any acts of genocide, they were perpetrated against Israel. Additionally, he condemned South Africa’s assertion that Israel lacked the right to defend itself against Hamas.
“If the applicant’s claim is to deny Israel the right to defend its citizens, the absurd consequence is that, under the guise of genocide allegations, this court is attempting to hinder Israel from protecting its civilians against an organization actively pursuing a genocidal agenda,” stated Becker.
He emphasized Israel’s commitment to adhering to the law during the conflict, acknowledging that it faced challenges due to Hamas’s blatant disregard for legal principles. Israel legal team
Becker argued that the “appalling suffering” experienced by civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, resulted from Hamas’s strategy of using civilians as shields.