Beginning rebuttal, Israel calls South Africa’s genocide case ‘totally divorced’ from facts

Israel lashes out at South Africa’s case before the UN’s top court, describing it as “totally divorced” from reality.

“South Africa presents the court for the fourth time with a picture that is completely divorced from the facts and circumstances,” top lawyer Gilad Noam tells the International Court of Justice at the start of the second day of hearings.

Yesterday, judges heard a litany of allegations against Israel from lawyers representing Pretoria, including mass graves, torture and deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid.

Noam tells the court that the case makes “a mockery” of the charge of genocide, and notes that Israel did not want this war, and is “under attack and fighting to defend itself and its citizens.”

He notes that Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city which is the focal point of the hearing, is a hub of “ongoing terrorist activity,” including the holding of hostages.