Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the International Court of Justice's accusations of genocide against Israel, labeling them as "outrageous" and vehemently contesting their validity. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's inherent right to self-defense in the face of ongoing conflict and asserted the nation's commitment to international law.
The ICJ had issued a directive urging Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians amidst the conflict but stopped short of mandating an immediate ceasefire. Despite this, the court emphasized the importance of Israel's efforts to minimize casualties and damage during its military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu's response followed a case initiated by South Africa before the ICJ, alleging genocide by Israel during its clashes with Hamas.
Israel swiftly rejected these allegations, deeming them false and distorted, and reiterated its dedication to minimizing harm to civilians. Despite the ICJ's ruling on protective measures for Palestinians, including preventing acts of genocide, it refrained from imposing an immediate ceasefire, prompting South Africa to urgently seek provisional measures from the court.
