GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Responding to an interim International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the “sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people.”
“Israel’s commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people,” Netanyahu said in a televised address after the UN court ordered Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, where it has killed more than 26,000 people.
Netanyahu said Israel has an “inherent right to defend itself,” adding that the “vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected.”
He claimed the charge of genocide leveled against Israel is “false” and “outrageous,” reiterating that “Israel will continue to defend itself against Hamas.”
For its part, the US claimed the ICJ’s ruling is consistent with Washington’s view that Israel has the right to take action, in accordance with international law, to ensure the October 7 attack cannot be repeated.
“We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded and note that the court did not make a finding about genocide or call for a ceasefire in its ruling and that it called for the unconditional, immediate release of all hostages being held by Hamas,” a State Department spokesperson claimed.
