Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly refuted South Africa’s accusation of genocide in Gaza, labeling the claims as “false.” Speaking during a Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu asserted, “It is not we who have come to perpetrate genocide, it is Hamas.”
South Africa had filed a case against Israel at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Netanyahu countered, emphasizing that Israel’s military is “acting as morally as possible” and taking measures to avoid harming civilians in its offensive against Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Minister pointed to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, stating, “Hamas would kill us all if it only could.” The ongoing conflict has seen over 21,500 Palestinians, including women and children, killed since October, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
While the Biden administration has historically supported Israel, recent calls from U.S. officials urge Israel to be more cautious about civilian lives. During a visit to Israel, officials like National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin encouraged transitioning to a “lower-intensity” phase of the conflict, emphasizing more surgical operations.
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