The UN’s International Court of Justice will begin hearing a case brought by South Africa today in which it accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
South Africa argues that “acts and omissions by Israel” are “genocidal in character”.
It says Israel’s actions “are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”.
Israel rejects the allegations.
In its evidence submission, South Africa said Israel’s actions include “killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction”.
It calls for “provisional measures” to be implemented by the court, including that Israel cease all military activities in Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the accusations “atrocious and preposterous”.
He added that the Israeli army was “doing its utmost under extremely complicated circumstances on the ground to make sure that there will be no unintended consequences and no civilian casualties”.