Germany on Friday rejected South Africa's accusations that Israel has committed what amounts to genocide in Gaza, arguing the ongoing trial before the International Court of Justice is "political."
"In view of German history and the crimes against humanity of the Holocaust, the Government is particularly committed to the Convention against Genocide," Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for the German government, said in a statement.
"This convention is a central instrument of international law to implement the principle of 'never again.' We resolutely oppose its political instrumentalization."
Hebestreit added: "We know that different countries rate Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip differently. However, Germany firmly and expressly rejects the accusation of genocide now made before the International Court of Justice against Israel. This accusation lacks any basis [and] … Government intends to intervene as a third party."
Germany's remarks arrived as Israel fiercely defended itself before the court at The Hague on Friday, arguing that Hamas had sucked the nation into a war bent on wiping out its existence.
Israel also argued that the UN court at The Hague lacks jurisdiction over the ongoing conflict.
“The appalling suffering of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, is first and foremost the result of Hamas' strategy," the Israeli foreign ministry's legal adviser, Tal Becker, told the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Friday.
Israeli legal counsellor Tal Becker (L) and barrister Malcolm Shaw look on during opening hearings of charges of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on January 11, 2024. Michel Porro/Getty Images
“In these circumstances, there can hardly be a charge more false and more malevolent than the allegation against Israel of genocide,” he added, noting that the horrible suffering of civilians in war was not enough to level that charge.
On Thursday, South Africa asked the court for a swift injunction to block Israel from continuing the war, which has killed more than 23,000 people in Gaza. The fighting began after a terrorist attack on Israel by Gaza’s ruling Hamas terror group that killed nearly 1,200 people.
The case could take years to be decided. Even if South Africa's requested injunction is issued by the Court, it would be non-binding and unlikely to stop the fighting in Gaza.