US still sees Gaza genocide charges 'unfounded', 26,083 martyrs later
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According to a US State Department spokesperson, the Israeli occupation had the "right" to take measures under international law to prevent October 7 from repeating.
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South African, left, and "Israel's" delegation, right, stand during a session at the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (AP)
The United States stated on Friday that the International Court of Justice's verdict on Gaza was consistent with Washington's assessment that "Israel" had the right to take measures under international law to prevent October 7 from repeating itself, Reuters reported.
A State Department spokesperson reiterated that the US still believes the genocide claims brought against "Israel" are "unfounded."
"We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded," the spokesperson said.
Earlier, the United Nations' highest court asserted its jurisdiction to act on the emergency measures sought by South Africa in its lawsuit against "Israel's" actions in the Gaza war.
As the reading proceeded, the court recognized the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide, adding that the Palestinians are a protected group under the Genocide Convention.
The Court ordered "Israel" to take all measures to prevent genocide acts in Gaza, ensure its forces do not commit genocide, and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation.
"Israel" is required to submit a report to the court within a month, detailing its actions to comply with the order. Furthermore, it must implement measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in the context of its war on Gaza.
Naturally, top leaders in the Israeli occupation expressed on Friday outrage following the ruling, with Benjamin Netanyahu calling the claim not only "false" but also "outrageous, and the willingness of the court to deliberate it at all is a mark of disgrace that will not be erased for generations."
On his part, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, who called civilians in Gaza "human animals" at the beginning of the war, described South Africa's genocide case against "Israel" as "antisemitic", saying that the entity “does not need to be lectured on morality” in its war on Gaza and will continue its aggression on the Strip to "dismantle" the Palestinian Resistance Hamas.
US to supply F-35, F-15 jets to "Israel" as aggression on Gaza continues
According to reports by Israeli Channel 12 on Thursday, the US and "Israel" signed an immense weapons agreement that involves the sale of F-35 and F-15 fighter planes to the occupation.
According to sources from the Israeli Security Ministry who were involved in the negotiations, the deal would mean the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) would be provided with drones and thousands of rounds of ammunition over the next several days, in addition to a substantial number of F-35 and F15 fighter planes, as well as Apache helicopters.
The Israeli sources expressed that the sale, which was pressed upon by Israeli officials, is of unprecedented proportions given the ongoing battle in Gaza and fighting in the north with the Lebanese Resistance Hezbollah.
The Israeli occupation is considering launching an attack on Lebanon in the following two weeks in case a political agreement is not reached regarding Hezbollah's presence near the Lebanon-Palestine border, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing sources.
Since the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon launched its operations last October in support of Gaza after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, almost a quarter-million Israeli settlers evacuated northern occupied Palestine fearing Hezbollah's attacks, in a repeat of a scenario similar to that in the Gaza Envelope in October 7.
Citing Western and Lebanese officials, the newspaper reported that Israelis informed Washington last December that it would have "no other option" but to carry out a military aggression against Lebanon if a diplomatic agreement is not reached that would allow the entity's settlers to return to the North.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and Army Chief Herzi Halevi had all similar announcements in the past month.
US complicit in destruction in Gaza
On Wednesday, at least 16 renowned international humanitarian groups launched a unified request on all UN member states to ban arms exports to "Israel" as the Israeli occupation continues its homicidal onslaught in the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to the statement, the organizations "demand an immediate ceasefire and call on all states to halt the transfer of weapons that can be used to commit violations of international humanitarian and human rights law."
Writing for Le Monde Diplomatique on Monday, Gilbert Achkar argued that the US, particularly under the Biden administration, has significantly shifted its historical approach of trying to present itself as an impartial arbiter in the Israeli aggression on the Arab region.
Achkar contends that the US bears direct responsibility for the Gaza massacre by supplying "Israel" with substantial weaponry, noting that by late November, the US had delivered 57,000 artillery shells and 15,000 bombs, including powerful BLU-117s and BLU-109 ('bunker buster') bombs, some weighing almost a ton each.
The US had provided 244 arms deliveries by cargo plane and 20 shipments by boat to "Israel" by December 25.
