South Africa and Israel have exchanged allegations on the eve of hearings at the top UN court which will hear South African claims that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in its Gaza offensive.

“Our opposition to the ongoing slaughter of the people of Gaza has driven us as a country to approach the ICJ,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.

“As a people who once tasted the bitter fruits of dispossession, discrimination, racism and state-sponsored violence, we are clear that we will stand on the right side of history,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy has said, “Tomorrow, the State of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel, as Pretoria gives political and legal cover to the Hamas Rapist Regime.”

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