Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel has no plans for a prolonged occupation of Gaza and is not seeking to displace civilians there.
Amid mounting criticism of Israel’s military campaign, including accusations of “genocide” by South Africa, Netanyahu addressed these concerns in a video statement. He clarified that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations are solely focused on targeting Hamas fighters and not non-combatants in Gaza.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel is committed to complying with international law and avoiding civilian casualties, while highlighting that Hamas uses civilians as “human shields.” He also outlined Israel’s objectives of eliminating Hamas terrorists, securing the release of hostages, and subsequently demilitarizing and deradicalizing Gaza. However, he did not provide further details on the latter.
This statement comes as Israel faces allegations of genocide before the International Court of Justice, with South Africa leading the case. The court will convene later this week to assess whether Israel has violated the 1948 Genocide Convention, which prohibits acts intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, either wholly or partially.
Pretoria has lodged a request for an urgent ruling to cease the military campaign in Gaza, citing the continuous loss of innocent Palestinian lives as the reason behind their action. President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his support for the case, emphasizing the ongoing slaughter of Palestinian civilians.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy responded to the proceedings by dismissing the genocide accusation as a form of anti-Semitic blood libel and accusing South Africa of providing political and legal support to the Hamas Rapist Regime. The United Nations, along with various human rights organizations, has also condemned the recent IDF operation, warning of a severe humanitarian crisis due to the Israeli bombardment and blockade.
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, in a press briefing, highlighted the devastating impact of IDF airstrikes and shelling on Gaza, describing the region as uninhabitable after three months of war.
He further warned of an impending famine and public health emergency due to critical shortages of essential goods. Local officials report that over 23,000 Gazans have lost their lives since the start of Israel’s operation, which was a response to a deadly Hamas terrorist attack in October, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals. The Palestinian militant group also took over 200 hostages, with around half being released through prisoner swaps between the warring parties.
