The HAGUE: Israel on Friday asked the United Nations’ International Court of Justice to dismiss a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
South Africa became the first country to file a lawsuit against Israel on December 29, alleging that its operations in Gaza constitute genocide.
Israel, giving its first formal response to the accusations at the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday, requested the court to dismiss the case, which is based on distorted allegations.
Prominent figures, including Jean-Luc Melenchon, a leading left-wing figure in France, attended the proceedings. Addressing a news conference outside the court, he described the hearing as a historic moment in the face of Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
During Thursday’s opening session, South Africa asked the court to order an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Israel has dismissed the accusation of genocide, saying that it is acting within its right to self-defense after the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack.
It accused South Africa of brazen gall in filing the false and baseless case in defense of Hamas.
The Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel on Friday said internet and telephone services were suspended across Gaza again due to Israeli bombing.
“We regret to announce that all telecom services in Gaza have been lost due to the ongoing aggression. Gaza is blacked out again,” said Paltel in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Death toll in Gaza swells to 23,700
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip on Friday said that at least 23,700 Palestinian people, had been killed in the ongoing Israeli bombardments since October 7.
The Gaza health ministry in its updated figures, reported that 60,005 persons, mostly women and children, have been wounded during the more than three months of intense fighting.
The United Nations (UN) humanitarian office said on Friday that Israeli authorities are consistently blocking access to northern Gaza, obstructing the delivery of aid and significantly affecting humanitarian operations in the war-hit region.
Andrea De Domenico, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expressed concerns about the escalating challenges in the northern Gaza operations.
Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), emphasized Israel’s recurrent violations of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including distinction, proportionality, and precautions in carrying out attacks.
