Genocide accusation against Israel: “South Africa’s hypocrisy knows no bounds”

For Israel, the bombing of Houthi positions in Yemen is the consequence of past attacks by the militia. Rather, the Netanyahu government is concerned with allegations of genocide before the International Court of Justice.

From Israel’s perspective, the attacks on the Houthis are the necessary response to the attacks from Yemen in recent weeks and months – on shipping traffic in the Red Sea and also directly against Israel.

The Houthis had fired rockets several times at Eilat in southern Israel, each of which was switched off by air defense. Israel had threatened to take action against the Houthis itself. Now allies, the USA and Great Britain, have taken over this. Israel is not expected to participate directly in the operations against the Houthis, as this would entail the risk of the conflict spreading further.

Netanyahu rejects allegations of genocide

The current top issue in Israel is the proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Yesterday, after the South African side spoke as a prosecutor and accused Israel of pursuing genocidal intent in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear that his country sees itself unjustly accused.

“What a twisted world,” he complained in a video message, “our army, the most moral in the world, which does everything not to harm those who are not involved, is being accused – by the representatives of the monsters of genocide. South Africa’s hypocrisy is limitless. “

Israel invokes Self-defense

Israel accuses South Africa of making itself a tool of Hamas with the indictment in The Hague. Israel’s line at the International Court of Justice is to claim self-defense. Former Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit contradicted the allegations in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

“If Israel wanted to commit genocide and kill as many Palestinians as possible, why did it act the way it did? To remove as many Palestinians as possible from the northern Gaza Strip and thus protect them?” That doesn’t fit with the crime of genocide, said Mandelblit.

On the Palestinian side there is broad support for South Africa’s actions. Mohammed Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, was full of praise in an interview with the Reuters news agency. “We say thank you to our comrades from South Africa. Israel must now answer the charge of committing genocide against our people in Gaza.”

Fighting in the central and southern Gaza Strip

Fierce fighting continues in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army said its troops had killed dozens of Hamas fighters in the past 24 hours in fighting in the center of the Gaza Strip and in Khan Yunis in the south. The army is currently expanding its operations there – with the aim, among other things, of tracking down Hamas leaders who are suspected to be in tunnels.

An agreement is reached Medicine deliveries?

Meanwhile, with indirect mediation from Qatar, attempts are being made to improve the situation of the Israeli hostages who remain in the Gaza Strip. Many of them suffer from chronic previous illnesses.

After a meeting with hostage relatives, Qatar is now apparently trying to reach an agreement to enable the abductees to be supplied with medication. Israeli media reported this, citing unnamed government sources. Part of the desired agreement should also include medical supplies for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.