Israeli FM accuses S. Africa of being 'legal arm of Hamas' in UN court
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This condemnation followed South Africa's demand at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an immediate end to the Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
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Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela, right, and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services of South Africa Ronald Lamola, center, during the opening of the hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 (AP)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry leveled petty accusations against South Africa, alleging that the country is acting as the "legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organization," the National Post reported on Thursday.
The claims came during two days of preliminary hearings at the United Nations' top court in The Hague.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lior Haiat tweeted, "Today, we witnessed one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history, compounded by a series of false and baseless claims."
Haiat accused South Africa of distorting the reality in Gaza following the outbreak of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.
Today we were witness to one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history, compounded by a series of false and baseless claims.
— Lior Haiat 🇮🇱 (@LiorHaiat) January 11, 2024
South Africa, which is functioning as the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organization, utterly distorted the reality in Gaza following the October 7… pic.twitter.com/82EfD9WeuF
This condemnation followed South Africa's demand at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an immediate end to the Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. South African attorney Adila Hassim said that "Israel" transgressed the Genocide Convention and committed acts falling within the definition of genocide.
"Nothing will stop the suffering except an order from this court," Hassim charged in her opening arguments, emphasizing the systematic pattern of conduct that implies genocide.
Read more: At first ICJ hearing, South Africa provides evidence of 'genocide'
South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola argued that the violence and destruction in Palestine had roots beyond the October 7 events, pointing to 76 years of systematic oppression and violence experienced by Palestinians.
Simultaneously, thousands of Dutch citizens gathered in support of Palestine, waving flags and shouting slogans such as "End apartheid Israel." Others joined a march in support of "Israel", organized by local Zionist groups.
The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will continue the proceedings, with "Israel's" legal team allowed to refute Pretoria's accusations on Friday morning.
While the legal process may extend over years, an interim order could be issued within weeks. Although the ICJ lacks enforcement capabilities, a ruling against "Israel" could intensify international pressure to de-escalate combat operations in Gaza.
Read more: Smotrich's extremism is bad PR, harms Israeli case in ICJ
