Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague to contest South Africa’s genocide accusations over the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, an Israeli government spokesman has said.

“The State of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice at The Hague to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel,” spokesman Eylon Levy said in an online briefing.

“We assure South Africa’s leaders, history will judge you, and it will judge you without mercy,” Levy said.