Israel-Hamas War: Israel rejects genocide charges in Gaza, asks ICJ to dismiss case | Oneindia News

  • 7 months ago
Israel firmly refuted and labeled as "false" and "grossly distorted" the accusations brought by South Africa at the United Nations' highest court, claiming that Israel's military operation in Gaza amounts to a state-led genocide against the Palestinian population. Israel argued that it was acting in self-defence and targeting Hamas, not the broader Palestinian population. In response to South Africa's plea to halt the offensive, Israel urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to dismiss the case, asserting it lacked merit.

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Transcript
00:00 Israel, firmly refuted and labelled as false and grossly distorted the accusations brought
00:07 by South Africa at the United Nations Highest Court, claiming that Israel's military operation
00:12 in Gaza amounts to a state-led genocide against the Palestinian population.
00:16 Israel argued that it was acting in self-defence and targeting Hamas, not the broader Palestinian
00:22 population.
00:23 In response to South Africa's plea to halt the offensive, Israel urged the International
00:28 Court of Justice to dismiss the case, asserting it lacked merit.
00:33 Lawyer Malcolm Shaw asserted, "This is not genocide," in response to accusations against
00:38 Israel.
00:39 The Israeli offensive in Gaza was initiated following a cross-border incident on October
00:43 7 involving Hamas fighters.
00:46 Israeli officials claimed that 1,200 people, primarily civilians, were killed and 240 were
00:50 taken hostage.
00:52 The Israeli Foreign Ministry's legal adviser Tal Becker argued that the suffering of both
00:56 Israeli and Palestinian civilians resulted primarily from Hamas' strategy.
01:01 Becker contended that if there were acts of genocide, they were perpetrated against Israel,
01:06 emphasising that Hamas seeks genocide against Israel.
01:10 South Africa sought emergency measures from the court to immediately halt Israel's offensive.
01:16 Israel rejected accusations that its aerial and ground offensive, which Gaza Health Authority's
01:20 claimed, has resulted in the deaths of almost 24,000 people, aimed at the destruction of
01:24 the population of Gaza.
01:27 Israel asserted its commitment to international law and its right to self-defence.
01:31 Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam emphasised, "When the cannons roar in Gaza, the law is
01:37 not silent."
01:38 The defence team argued that Israel was taking steps to alleviate humanitarian suffering
01:42 in Gaza, including urging Palestinians to evacuate.
01:47 The 1948 Genocide Convention, established in the aftermath of the Holocaust, defines
01:51 genocide as "acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national,
01:57 ethnic, racial or religious group."
01:59 Israel's defence team contended that the country was not engaged in genocide and highlighted
02:04 its efforts to address the crisis in Gaza.
02:08 The International Court of Justice is expected to rule on potential emergency measures later
02:11 this month, though it won't decide on the genocide accusations at that time.
02:16 Proceedings on the genocide allegations may extend over several years, while the ICJ's
02:20 decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
02:23 The court lacks mechanisms for enforcing its rulings.
02:26 - - -
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02:29 - - -
02:30 (dramatic music)
02:33 (thunder)

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