Israel’s president on Sunday accused the U.N. world court of misrepresenting his words in a ruling that ordered Israel to take steps to protect Palestinians and prevent a genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Quick Read
- Israel’s president criticized the U.N. world court for allegedly misquoting him in a ruling that mandates Israel to safeguard Palestinians and prevent genocide in Gaza.
- The court referenced statements from Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog’s comments following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, as evidence of incitement and dehumanization against Palestinians.
- The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, while the subsequent Israeli response has caused over 26,000 Palestinian deaths, displaced over 80% of Gaza’s population, and led to a humanitarian crisis.
- Herzog was quoted in the court’s report as holding “an entire nation” accountable for the massacre during an Oct. 12 news conference.
- Herzog contends the court overlooked his statements from the same conference emphasizing the protection of innocent civilians and adherence to international war laws.
- He expressed dismay at how his statements were “twisted” to support what he views as an unfounded legal argument.
- Although the court did not demand a halt to the Israeli military campaign, it instructed Israel to prevent genocide and death in Gaza, cease incitement, and submit a progress report within a month.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel’s Herzog says UN world court misrepresented his comments in its genocide ruling
Newslooks- JERUSALEM (AP) —
Israel’s president on Sunday accused the U.N. world court of misrepresenting his words in a ruling that ordered Israel to take steps to protect Palestinians and prevent a genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The court’s ruling on Friday cited a series of statements made by Israeli leaders as evidence of incitement and dehumanizing language against Palestinians. They included comments by President Isaac Herzog made just days after the Oct. 7 Hamas cross-border attack that triggered Israel’s war against the Islamic militant group.
Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in that attack and took about 250 others hostage. The Israeli offensive has left more than 26,000 Palestinians dead, displaced more than 80% of Gaza’s inhabitants and led to a humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Talking about Gaza’s Palestinians at an Oct. 12 news conference, Herzog said that “an entire nation” was responsible for the massacre, the report by the International Court of Justice noted.
But Herzog said that it ignored other comments in the same news conference in which he said “there is no excuse” for killing innocent civilians, and that Israel would respect international laws of war.
“I was disgusted by the way they twisted my words, using very, very partial and fragmented quotes, with the intention of supporting an unfounded legal contention,” Herzog said Sunday.
In its ruling, the court stopped short of ordering ordering an end to the Israeli military offensive. But it ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza and issued a series of orders to Israel that include an end to incitement and submitting a progress report to the court within one month.
