As ‘genocide‘ hearing at ICJ begins, Netanyahu stresses: No plan to displace Gaza population

As the International Court of Justice in The Hague begins hearings on Thursday regarding South Africa's accusation of genocide against Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his rejection of the claim in a statement.

“I want to make a few points absolutely clear,” Netanyahu wrote on Wednesday evening.

“Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population. Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists… in full compliance with international law.”

“The IDF is doing its utmost to minimize civilian casualties… Our goal is to rid Gaza of Hamas terrorists and free our hostages. Once this is achieved, Gaza can be demilitarized and deradicalized, thereby creating a possibility for a better future for Israel and Palestinians alike,” the prime minister added.

The South African government under President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of committing ‘genocide’ in its war against the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, who started the fighting with a brutal attack against Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 240 hostages kidnapped into Gaza.

“Our opposition to the continuing slaughter of the people of Gaza has driven us as a country to approach the ICJ,” Ramaphosa said on Wednesday. “As a people who once tasted the bitter fruits of dispossession, discrimination, racism, and state-sponsored violence, we are clear that we will stand on the right side of history.”

South Africa accused Israel of targeting Gaza's infrastructure, thus “deliberately creating conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinian people.”

If South Africa's appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is successful, it could result in a call for Israel to suspend its military operations, which would significantly increase the pressure from Israel's allies, even though the court has no enforcement mechanisms at its disposal.

Israeli officials rejected the accusation “with disgust” and called it a “blood libel,” but nevertheless took the unusual step of appearing in front of the court to fend off the charges.

The Jewish state tends to disregard and ignore politically motivated lawsuits targeting its conduct but, in this case, is gearing up to resolutely defend its conduct in the Gaza Strip.

British law professor Malcolm Shaw will represent Israel's case in the court. Shaw is a world-renowned expert on International Law and territorial disputes and has written books about the law on genocide and the International Court of Justice.

In addition, Israel's retired High Court president, Justice Aharon Barak, was chosen to join the ICJ’s panel of 15 members hearing the case.

The appointment was met with considerable criticism from members of the government coalition, as Barak was seen as one of the leading figures of the protest movement against the judicial reform.

Biden administration officials have joined Israel in rejecting the accusations of genocide, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “particularly galling, given that those who are attacking Israel –Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, as well as their supporter, Iran – continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews.”