Staff Reporter.
Israel has hit out at what it called an “outrageous” and “morally repugnant” South African plea to the UN’s top court urging new emergency measures in light of “starvation” in Gaza.
Early this month, Pretoria petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for so-called “provisional measures” to stop “widespread starvation” resulting from Israel’s Gaza offensive.
In its response published by the court Monday, Israel lashed South Africa for its “bellicose and offensive tone” and accusations it described as “outrageous and categorically denied.”
Israel said it remained “committed to the observance of its international legal obligations” and had taken several measures to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza.
The war erupted after Hamas militants attacked Israel from Gaza on October 7, resulting in about 1,160 deaths — mostly civilians — according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
The militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.
Israel has carried out a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive that Gaza’s health ministry says has killed at least 31,726 people, most of them women and children.
At the ICJ, South Africa charges that Israel is perpetrating a genocide in Gaza, an accusation vehemently denied by Israel.
Pretoria dragged Israel before the court, saying it was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, and urging the court to order a ceasefire.
The court last month rejected an earlier request by South Africa for more provisional measures to safeguard Rafah, but also stressed that Israel must respect the earlier measures that imposed at a preliminary stage in the landmark genocide case.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Monday that impending famine in Gaza was “entirely man-made” as “starvation is used as a weapon of war.”
“Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed,” he said.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.