Israel's Netanyahu to meet top legal officials ahead of ICJ ruling on Gaza genocide case

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a meeting of top legal officials to discuss a looming ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The Hague-based court will give its verdict in South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel on Friday.

According to Israeli Army Radio, Thursday’s meeting will discuss possible scenarios of the ICJ ruling on the Israeli war on Gaza.

The meeting will be attended by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

It is not yet clear if military officials will attend the meeting.

On Dec. 29, South Africa filed a lawsuit with the ICJ requesting an injunction against Israel on the grounds that Tel Aviv’s onslaught on Gaza violates the Genocide Convention.

South Africa demands the ICJ grant nine interim injunctions, including that Israel immediately cease its military operations in Gaza, take reasonable measures to prevent the genocide of Palestinians, ensure that the displaced return to their homes and have access to humanitarian assistance, including adequate food, water, fuel, medical and hygiene supplies, shelter and clothing, take necessary steps to punish those involved in the genocide and preserve the evidence of genocide.

It also requests that the ICJ grant an injunction due to the urgency of the situation. Following the completion of hearings on Jan. 11 - 12, the Court began deliberations after examining the parties' submissions and evidence.

Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, killing at least 25,700 Palestinians and injuring 63,740 others. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli war has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while more than half of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio