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Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legal Advisor Tal Becker (left) attends Israel’s defense hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the genocide case in Gaza carried out by Israel on January 12 2024, in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo/Dursun Aydemir/Anado
DEN HAAG – Israel “failed to deny” the genocide case submitted by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The South African Minister of Justice confirmed this on Friday (12/1/2024), reported by Anadolu Agency.
Following Israel’s defense at the ICJ, Ronald Lamola who led the South African delegation told journalists in The Hague, “The State of Israel, today, failed to refute South Africa’s statement presented before the Court.”
“We believe and remain convinced that these facts still violate the Genocide Convention,” stressed Lamola.
Regarding Israel’s claim that South Africa “misunderstood” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reference to the Amelekites (descendants of Amelek) and that the term had nothing to do with “incitement to genocide against the Palestinian people”, he said the reference could not be ignored.
“How can you ignore the Prime Minister’s Amelek reference statement?” he asked, noting, “This was repeated by other Israeli ministers who clearly demonstrated the implementation of his policy.”
The Amelekites were an ancient group of people mentioned in Jewish scriptures as persecutors of the Israelites.
Lamola reiterated, “No matter what individuals in Palestinian and Gaza groups have done, and no matter how great the threat to Israeli citizens, genocidal attacks on all of Gaza … with the aim of destroying them cannot be justified at all.”
Lamola also responded to Israel’s accusations calling South Africa’s arguments “confused and one-sided”.
He said most of his arguments, including humanitarian aid and refugees, were also made by the UN.
Ammar Hijazi, assistant minister for Multilateral Affairs for the State of Palestine, said Israel “has not been able to provide strong arguments based on facts and law”, in his oral explanation.
“What Israel is giving us now are mostly lies that have been debunked and told before,” Hijazi concluded.
(she)