MOSCOW, January 6 The Israeli Foreign Ministry instructed its embassies in other countries to put pressure on diplomats and politicians to speak out against South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Tel Aviv of «committing genocide» in the Gaza Strip, Axios reported, citing a copy of the cable to which it had access .
«We request that <…> immediately <…> make a public statement along the following lines: <…> declare that your country rejects the most outrageous <…> and unfounded accusations leveled against Israel,» — the publication quotes a telegram received from three Israeli sources.
According to the portal, the cable sent by the Israeli department on Thursday illustrates Tel Aviv's diplomatic plan ahead of the hearings at the International Court of Justice: to apply international pressure on the court so that it does not prohibit Israel from conducting military operations in the enclave.
Israeli embassies in other countries have been instructed to ask diplomats and politicians at the highest levels to «publicly acknowledge» that Tel Aviv is working to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and minimize harm to civilians in the enclave.
“Israeli ambassadors were also instructed to urgently work to obtain such statements before the court hearings. They were informed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would send the same letters (requesting support. — Ed.) to dozens of world leaders,” Axios emphasized.
In December 2023, South Africa filed a claim against Israel under the genocide convention at the International Court of Justice in The Hague over the situation in the Gaza Strip, calling on the court to take provisional measures against Tel Aviv. The first hearings were scheduled for January 11-12.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is associated with the territorial interests of the parties and has remained a source of tension and fighting in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Jewish one appeared.
A new round of confrontation began after Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7. After massive shelling, Hamas fighters entered the border areas in the south of the Jewish state, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took hostages. The movement's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords. Within days of the attack, the Israeli military took took control of all settlements near the border of the Gaza Strip and began to carry out airstrikes on objects, including civilians, in the enclave. In addition, Israel announced a complete blockade of Gaza: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel was suspended. In the end October, the ground phase of the Israeli operation began: troops surrounded the city of Gaza, and the enclave was actually divided into southern and northern parts.
According to the latest data, the number of victims in the Gaza Strip exceeded 22 thousand people, more than 57 thousand were injured. In Israel, more than 1, 2 thousand people, including 20 Russians, more than five thousand were injured. After the end of the truce, Tel Aviv announced that 126 Israelis and 11 foreigners remained hostage with Hamas, 110 abducted were released..