Israel’s actions in Palestinian Rafah reflect its intention to commit genocide, South Africa

CAIRO – 17 May 2024: South African representative at ICJ says Israeli’s actions in Palestinian Rafah reflect the occupation’s intention to commit genocide

The representative welcomed Egypt’s joining South Africa in the lawsuit filed against Israel

He added in statements to al Qahera news channel that the protection of civilians must be guaranteed, stressing the need to hold war criminals accountable

He called on the court to use its powers to force Israel to stop its operations in Gaza, stressing that Israel has enjoyed immunity for 70 years and it must be stopped immediately.

The South African representative at the International Court of Justice affirmed that they put before the court confirmed facts about Israeli genocidal activities in Gaza and Palestinian Rafah.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Friday that the number of deaths among Palestinians due to Israeli aggression has risen to 35,303, and the number of injured reached 79,261 since the 70th of October 2023.

The Israeli occupation forces committed four massacres, killing dozens of Palestinians, including 31 martyrs who were transported to hospitals and 90 injured within the last 24 hours.

Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinians in the whole Gaza Strip has escalated since May 6 when Israeli forces stormed and occupied the Palestinian city of Rafah amid non-stop shelling on the civilians in the city and other cities across the strip, especially in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern the strip.

On the other side, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas (Al-Qassam Brigades) has attacked Israeli forces, injuring and killing a number of them.

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced that their fighters targeted a special zionist force holed up in a building using a TBG shell east of the city of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Friday. Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades stated on Friday that their fighters were able to bombard an Israeli vehicle position east of the central governorate with heavy caliber mortar shells.