South Africa was accused by Israel on Thursday of acting “as the legal arm of Hamas” after Pretoria’s repeated requests for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for sanctions on Israel.
The spokesperson for the South African government denied the accusation.
“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 foreign ministry of Israel stated.
“The repeated requests for provisional measures made by South Africa to assist Hamas are yet another cynical exploitation of the International Court of Justice in the Hague, which has already twice rejected the baseless attempts to deny Israel its right and obligation of self-defense,” said the statement.
South Africa expressed its concerns in its appeal to the ICJ, according to Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for the nation’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Israel knows exactly what it’s doing.
The claim that South Africa represents Hamas is absurd.
In January, South Africa requested that the World Court rule that Israel was carrying out genocide in Gaza and that Israel cease its military assault there. Rather than taking this action, the court issued a more general ruling ordering Israel to ensure that genocide does not happen.
In response to Israel’s claimed infringements of existing sanctions, South Africa has now asked the highest court of the UN to impose more penalties on the country.
It said there was a famine in Gaza and requested a court order for all sides to stop fighting and free all prisoners and hostages.
“Israel acts and will continue to act by international law, including by facilitating humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, regardless of any legal proceedings,” said the Ministry of Justice. “We call on the ICJ to reject outright the new request of the representatives of Hamas.”
The attack on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths—mostly civilians—and the kidnapping of 253 held hostage, according to Israeli projections, was the impetus for the Gaza War. More than 30,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s military campaign, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
With over 130 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, Israel pledged to keep up its offensive until it destroys Hamas, which controls Gaza and is dedicated to Israel’s destruction.
