Netanyahu rejects South Africa's accusation that Israel is committing genocide in its war against Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, on December 31. Abir Sultan/Pool/AP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, on December 31. Abir Sultan/Pool/AP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected South Africa's claim that Israel was committing genocide in its war against Hamas.
Netanyahu's comments came after South Africa applied to the International Court of Justice on Friday to open proceedings on genocide allegations.
“I would like to say a few words about South Africa's false accusation that Israel is 'committing genocide'. No, South Africa, it is not us who have come to commit genocide, it is Hamas. They would kill us all if they could,” he said, adding that the Israel Defense Forces act “in the most moral way” and do “everything possible not to harm civilians.”
He went on to accuse South Africa of merely flaunting its arguments and listed other conflicts in which he said the country had not taken steps to intervene.
“And I ask: Where were you, South Africa – and the rest of those who slander us – where were you when millions of people were being killed and driven from their homes in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere? “You weren’t there,” he said.
Some background: Israel's airstrikes and ground attacks on Gaza in response to Hamas' deadly terrorist attacks and kidnappings on October 7 have caused widespread devastation in the densely populated coastal strip, prompting protests from aid groups and increasing pressure from the international community. Community.
US President Joe Biden said earlier this month that Israel was carrying out “indiscriminate bombings” in Gaza. U.S. intelligence estimates suggest that nearly half of the air-to-surface munitions Israel has used in Gaza have been unguided, also known as “dumb bombs.” Unguided munitions are typically less precise and can pose a greater threat to civilians.
Supporters of the Israeli campaign argue that this type of heavy munition acts as a bunker buster and helps destroy Hamas' underground tunnel infrastructure. But experts say Western militaries typically use these bombs sparingly. International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate bombing.
Nearly 21,700 people have died in Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-controlled enclave's health ministry. CNN cannot independently verify the department's figures.
Pierre Meilhan, Bethlehem Feleke and Tamar Michaelis contributed to this publication.