Minister in the Israeli government’s war council, Benny Gantz, attacked the lawsuit filed by South Africa in the International Court of Justice, noting that “accusing Israel of committing genocide is a dangerous matter and a red line.”
Tomorrow, hearings are scheduled to begin in The Hague in the case filed by South Africa against Israel on charges of committing war crimes during its aggression against the Gaza Strip, which has continued for more than 3 months and claimed the lives of more than 23,000 martyrs, most of whom were children and women.
Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party, confirmed in a press conference held in Tel Aviv that he had not resigned from the government and that he would continue in it “as long as we are needed,” as he said, which gives Benjamin Netanyahu’s government the ability to continue in light of the mounting anger against it due to the war. On Gaza.
Gantz’s comment came after many calls were made for him to resign from the government with the aim of bringing it down, especially after opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed his party’s readiness to support Gantz to assume the position of prime minister.
Return of prisoners
In what appeared to be a change in Gantz’s position, he indicated that the urgent matter for Israel is “the return of the kidnapped people, which is the priority before all combat operations,” pointing out that “we are all doing what we can to return the kidnapped people from the Gaza Strip.”
The resistance in the Gaza Strip refuses to discuss the file of its prisoners before stopping the Israeli aggression and halting military operations on the Strip.
Although what he said conflicted with the goals set by Israel at the start of its aggression against Gaza, Gantz echoed what Israeli officials say about their commitment to the goals they set at the start of the aggression, which are “eliminating Hamas and recovering the hostages,” stressing at the same time that “operations will continue for a long period in the Gaza Strip.” Gaza and we will maintain its security.”
In an attempt to highlight the goals achieved in the war, Gantz – who served as Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army – explained that “the army’s achievements are increasing, and in a large part of the Gaza Strip there is no authority for Hamas,” despite his not specifying those achievements and the continued resistance by firing rockets from All areas of the Gaza Strip include Israeli cities and towns.
During his press conference, Gantz threatened Lebanon, reminding it of the devastating Israeli bombing and killing of civilians that the Gaza Strip is being subjected to, saying, “If Lebanon wants its citizens to be a human shield for Hezbollah and Iran, we will move in southern Lebanon as we are doing in Gaza now.”