Israel defended its attack in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, before the International Court of Justice on Friday, saying that it was acting in self-defense against fighters of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and asked the judges to reject a request from South Africa to issue an order for its withdrawal from Gaza.
Today, Friday, the International Court of Justice in The Hague will hold a hearing in which Israel will present its opinion on a lawsuit filed by South Africa, accusing Tel Aviv of committing genocide crimes during its war in the Gaza Strip and demanding emergency action to stop the Israeli attack on the city of Rafah.
The president of the court pre-empted hearing Israel’s plea by calling on it to ensure that its army does not commit any violations in Gaza.
Gilad Naoum, Israeli Deputy Prosecutor for International Law at the International Court of Justice, said that the case brought by South Africa is “completely divorced from the truth and current circumstances.”
He added that Israel had less than 24 hours to respond to South Africa’s latest request at the International Court of Justice, saying it was “not fair” and would undermine its self-defense.
He added that Israel is “defending itself and being attacked” in a war it did not start, repeating the Israeli claim that the city of Rafah is a “stronghold” of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and a focal point for its activities.
He also said that what is happening in Gaza is “a tragic war, not genocide,” and asked the judges to reject South Africa’s request to issue an order for its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, especially Rafah.
Noam accused South Africa of “wanting to provide a military advantage to its ally, Hamas, which it does not want to see defeated,” and therefore asked to prevent the Rafah operation.
South Africa submitted a request to the International Court of Justice to take additional measures regarding the Israeli attack on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, and had previously rejected Israeli accusations that it was working for the benefit of the Hamas movement.
Interrupting the session
A protest inside the International Court of Justice hall led to a temporary boycott of the hearings of the Israeli delegation.
Tel Aviv Tribune’s correspondent said that a demonstrator interrupted the Israeli delegation’s pleading before the International Court of Justice when Tamar Kaplan Turgeman, the principal deputy legal advisor to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was speaking, and shouted, “You are liars.”
In turn, Tamar Kaplan claimed that Israel did not close the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, nor cut off medical, food, and fuel supplies to the Strip.
She claimed in her defense that Israel “continues to improve health services throughout the Gaza Strip,” and pointed out that the war is tragic for both Palestinians and Israelis, but that this tragedy is “caused by Hamas,” as she put it.
She said South Africa should “ask its ally Hamas to stop using hospitals as military centres”, adding that Pretoria had distorted the facts to support what it said were allegations of genocide in Gaza.
Court question
Before the conclusion of the International Court of Justice session, the court posed a question to the Israeli delegation about the humanitarian conditions in the so-called “evacuation zones” declared in Gaza, to which the Israeli army asked the residents of Rafah to move.
Judge George Nolte asked Israel to provide information about the humanitarian conditions in the designated evacuation areas, especially Al-Mawasi, and how it will ensure safe passage to these areas.
The court said that Israel was asked to provide a written response on this matter no later than tomorrow, Saturday.
Support for Palestine
On the other hand, South African Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola said that the genocide case filed by his country against Israel in the International Court of Justice helped influence public opinion and increase international support for the Palestinian cause.
Yesterday, Thursday, the court heard the plea of the South African delegation, which asked the court to take new precautionary measures in accordance with the Genocide Convention, ordering Israel to stop the war in Gaza and withdraw its army from the Gaza Strip and from the Rafah crossing.
At Thursday’s hearing, the South African delegation said that Israel’s actions in Rafah showed a plan “to destroy the foundations of Palestinian life in the Gaza Strip, and we are now witnessing the final stages of that.”
The delegation added, “The genocide committed by Israel in Gaza continues at a rapid pace, and has reached a new and horrific stage.”
In response to the case filed by South Africa on December 29, 2023 against Israel, the International Court of Justice on January 26 ordered Tel Aviv to take “measures to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.”
The Israeli army continues its military operation in Rafah, which it began on May 6, ignoring regional and international warnings about its repercussions, in light of the presence of about 1.4 million displaced people in the city. The army pushed them there claiming that it was “safe,” and then later launched raids on it that resulted in deaths. And wounded.
The Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, has left more than 114,000 dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and massive destruction.