Some 210 members of the US Congress have signed a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejecting the “grossly unfounded and defamatory charges” being made against Israel by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Al Jazeera reports.

“We write to you to express our disgust at this filing, which perpetrates false and dangerous allegations against the Jewish state,” the letter read.

The letter, organised by Democrat Kathy Manning and Republican Chris Smith, states that “Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas terror”, and urged Blinken to “offer Israel all appropriate support in opposing the South African application”.