US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that US relations with South Africa would not suffer over a genocide case brought against Israel, although he again rejected the allegation, AFP reports.

The International Court of Justice will rule Friday on whether there is enough evidence that Israel has broken or could break the Genocide Convention to justify it ordering emergency measures to protect civilians.

On a tour of Africa that does not include a stop in South Africa, Washington’s top diplomat — who has previously called the genocide case “meritless” — said “those views stand”.

“Of course, our relationship with South Africa is vitally important and it is a very broad and deep relationship covering many, many issues,” Blinken told reporters in Angola.

“When we have a disagreement on one particular matter, it doesn’t take away from the important work that we are doing together,” he said.