2024-01-11 11:30:00
South Africa accuses Israeli leaders of showing “genocidal intent” towards Palestinians in Gaza
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, one of the lawyers representing South Africa, went on to say that there was an “extraordinary feature” in this case: “Israel’s political leaders, military commanders and people in official positions have consistently and in explicit terms declared their genocidal intent.” .
He said these statements “are then repeated by soldiers on the ground in Gaza as they engage in the destruction of Palestinians and Gaza’s physical infrastructure.”
“Israel’s special genocidal intent is rooted in the belief that, in fact, the enemy is not just the military wing of Hamas, or indeed Hamas in general, but is embedded in the fabric of Palestinian life in Gaza.” said Ngcukaitobi.
He cited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Israeli forces on October 28, ahead of the imminent launch of their ground offensive in Gaza.
“Remember what Amalek did to you,” Netanyahu said in his speech, which Ngcukaitobi told the court “refers to a biblical order from God to Saul for the retaliatory destruction of an entire group of people known as the Amalekites.”
Ngcukaitobi cited a verse from the book of Samuel that also refers to the Amalekites. “Do not spare them; kill men and women, boys and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys,” the verse reads.
Ngcukaitobi then referred to quotes from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
“On October 9, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed the army of the situation and said that since Israel was imposing a total siege on Gaza, there would be no electricity, food, water or fuel. Everything would be closed. Because “Israel is fighting ‘human animals,'” Ngcukaitobi told the court.
Ngcukaitobi continued: “Speaking to troops on the Gaza border he instructed them that he has released ‘all restrictions’ and that Gaza will not return to what it was before.”
“We will eliminate everything. We will hit every place,” Ngcukaitobi quoted Gallant as saying.
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