Israel lawyers respond to genocide accusations
Israel has rejected what it calls "grossly distorted" accusations of genocide in a hearing at the International Court of Justice.
It's responding to a case brought by South Africa, which has asked judges to impose emergency measures to immediately stop the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Correspondent Johannes Pleschberger reports from The Hague on Israel’s legal arguments.
It's responding to a case brought by South Africa, which has asked judges to impose emergency measures to immediately stop the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Correspondent Johannes Pleschberger reports from The Hague on Israel’s legal arguments.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Well, there are serious accusations coming from both sides in The Hague this week.
00:05 First, yesterday South Africa accused Israel of committing a genocide in the Gaza Strip.
00:11 And now today Israel is accusing South Africa of acting as a mouthpiece for Hamas,
00:17 who attacked Israel on October 7th, and according to Israel, provoked this current ongoing war in Gaza.
00:24 Now Israel furthermore said today that there is no genocide,
00:29 because Israel is only targeting Hamas and not Palestinian people, according to Israel's officials.
00:36 But let's take a look at what happened today at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
00:40 Israel's military operation in Gaza is according to South Africa a genocide campaign.
00:47 Serious allegations which prompted Israeli officials to speak before the International Court of Justice.
00:53 What Israel seeks by operating in Gaza is not to destroy a people, but to protect the people,
01:01 its people, who are under attack on multiple fronts.
01:07 Thursday South Africa accused Israel of creating conditions in Gaza,
01:11 which are calculated to destroy the population. Israel says this is unfounded.
01:17 In order for the courts to rule in favor of a provisional ceasefire,
01:20 South Africa does not need to prove genocide, it just needs to prove that there are acts
01:25 which are capable of falling within the genocide convention, which is a much lower standard.
01:31 The court could decide on a ceasefire within just weeks.
01:36 Such rulings, however, are not enforceable and might have little to no effect on the war.
01:41 Meanwhile emotions among protesters gathered outside the court ran high.
01:46 Israel has the right to defend itself. What has happened is terrible, the massacre,
01:51 the people who are murdered and the hostages, it's so terrible.
01:56 It's kind of weird that one time Palestine fights back, then it creates chaos,
02:01 and Israel is like, "Oh no, we need to defend ourselves."
02:03 Meanwhile Palestine never could defend itself every time Israel bombed every city of Palestine.
02:11 Food, water and humanitarian assistance remain difficult to access.
02:14 Palestinian officials say that 1% of the Gaza population has already been killed by Israel's military.
02:20 So what happens next?
02:27 Well, the court is expected to decide on a provisional ceasefire within just weeks,
02:33 but in the past such rulings had no effect, they're just not enforceable.
02:38 So this probably won't change the ongoing war in Gaza.
02:43 The only thing that might change is Israel's image around the world
02:47 and also Israel's current allies who are supporting Israel and maybe delivering weapons.
02:53 They might think twice in the future whether they will continue to support Israel's war in Gaza.