Jerusalem — Israel on Thursday accused South Africa of “cynical exploitation” of the International Court of Justice(ICJ) after Pretoria again requested emergency measures over the war in Gaza.
Citing “widespread starvation” in the Palestinian territory, South Africa on Wednesday petitioned the ICJ to order an “immediate halt” to five months of fighting between Israel and Hamas militants.
Israel accused South Africa of being “representatives of Hamas” and called on the court to reject Pretoria’s latest request.
“South Africa continues to act as the legal arm of Hamas in an attempt to undermine Israel’s inherent right to defend itself and its citizens, and to release all of the hostages,” foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said in a statement.
In a ruling in mid-January that made headlines worldwide, the ICJ, based in The Hague, ordered Israel to do everything it could to prevent genocide during its offensive in Gaza.
This week marked the second time Pretoria has asked the court for additional measures — its first request in February was denied.
South Africa continues to act as the legal arm of Hamas in an attempt to undermine Israel’s inherent right to defend itself and its citizens, and to release all of the hostages.
The repeated requests for provisional measures made by South Africa in order to assist Hamas are yet… pic.twitter.com/zYNMqnUq45
— Lior Haiat 🇮🇱🎗️ (@LiorHaiat) March 7, 2024
Pretoria said this second application may be “the last opportunity that this court shall have to save the Palestinian people in Gaza already dying of starvation, and now ‘one step’ from famine,” citing the United Nations humanitarian agency.
The UN has warned famine is looming in the Gaza Strip where desperate crowds have stopped and looted food aid trucks.
Dire shortages of food and water amid Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory have killed at least 20 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
In its January ruling, the court also said Israel must allow aid into Gaza to ease the desperate humanitarian situation.
Although ICJ rulings on disputes between states are legally binding, the court has little means to enforce its judgements.
The war began after Hamas launched the October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in about 1,160 deaths, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also took around 250 hostages, some of whom were released while Israel estimates 99 remain alive in Gaza and 31 have died.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 30,800 people, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.
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Source: AFP
Picture: X/@iamBrianBJ
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