At the ICJ, the advocates for Israel can enter into the record the hair-raising, annihilationist antisemitism in the Palestinian schoolbooks, in order to convince the Court of the “inculcation of “genocidal” attitudes toward Jews.
The first part of Israel’s case will focus on all the ways that Hamas promotes “genocide,” and on the skewed sympathy exhibited by South Africa for Hamas murders, and its apparent indifference to other outrages, including the savage mistreatment of the Uighurs in China, of the political dissidents and religious minorities in Iran, the war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, and many more examples of violations of international law that South Africa ignores while it concentrates all of its outrage on Israel.
The second part of Israel’s defense at the ICJ against the South African charge of “genocide” should describe all the efforts Israel makes to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza. Aharon Barak can explain Israel’s system of warning civilians to leave areas that the IDF plans to soon target. Before Israel began its ground offensive in northern Gaza, it dropped 1.4 million leaflets telling Gazans to leave the north and head south of the Wadi Gaza, where they would be safe while battles raged in the north. 900,000 Gazans ultimately moved from the north to south, along the corridor of Salah al-Din Street. Some Gazans were murdered, as they walked south, by Hamas, which wants to prevent its human shields from leaving. Later in the war, when Israel began its campaign in the south, the Israelis dropped 2 million leaflets that showed Gazas the precise neighborhoods where they would be safe. They also used, and use, telephoning, messaging, and the “knock-on-the-roof” technique to warn Palestinians to leave civilian buildings — schools, mosques, apartment buildings — where weapons have been stored, Hamas fighters hiding, command-and-control centers, and entries to terror tunnels about to be targeted. The IDF has so far made 14 million telephone calls to warn civilians about impending attacks. Of course, these warnings also give Hamas the ability to run and hide from targeted sites. As British Colonel Richard Kemp has said, “no other army in the world warns its enemies where impending attacks are about to take place.” That is one of the reasons why he has said: “No other army in the world has ever done more than Israel is doing now to save the lives of innocent civilians in a combat zone.” Perhaps Kemp can appear at the ICJ as a witness for the defense.
As part of the rebuttal to South Africa’s “genocide” charge at the ICJ, the Israels should present the numbers of civilian-to-combatant casualties in this war, as compared to the ratio achieved in other wars. The UN has calculated that in all the wars since World War II, the average civilian-to-combatant ration was 9 to 1 — that is, nine civilian casualties for every combatant. The American and British armies have done much better. In Iraq, the ratio was 3 to 1. In Afghanistan the ratio was between 3:1 and 5:1. But the IDF, despite having to conduct urban warfare in a setting where the enemy has embedded itself in civilian areas, and surrounded itself with civilians forced to act as human shields, has done far better in its ratio of civilians-to-combatants killed than any other army.
What do we know about the numbers? We know that Hamas, which has a long record of lying about — well, everything, including that so-called “massacre at Jenin” and the claim of an IDF airstrike on Al-Ahli Hospital that never was — now claims that 23,000 Gazans have died. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, and many in the media carelessly report on “23,000 dead” without making clear that many of those 23,000 are Hamas fighters. One hears endlessly that “the Israelis have killed 23,000 people in Gaza, most of them women and children,” which is how Hamas announces its losses: “most of them women and children.”
What is the truth? The IDF has announced that it has killed about 9,000 Hamas operatives in northern Gaza. It has yet to release a figure on Hamas deaths in central and southern Gaza. But it is reasonable to assume that at least half as many Hamas fighters have been killed in central and south as in the north — that is, 4,500. This would mean that the IDF has killed, at the very least, a total of 13,500 Hamas fighters. If we deduct that number from Hamas’ claim that “23,000” people have been killed so far in Gaza, that would break down thus: 13,500 combatants killed, 9,500 civilians killed. That means the civilian-to-combatant’ ratio in the Gaza War is 95:135, or approximately 2:3. This figure — two civilians killed for every three combatant deaths — is the lowest, by far, achieved by any army in any conflict anywhere in the world. It testifies to the extreme measures the IDF takes to minimize civilian casualties. Does this sound like “genocide” to you?
I’m looking forward to this dispute between South Africa and Israel coming before the ICJ in The Hague. I hope the proceedings are given the widest possible coverage. I expect that soon enough Pretoria will rue the day it decided to charge Israel with “genocide.”
tom parry says
They do not need to defend their actions to this Kangaro court of which Bidens’ leftist goons would be proud of. (BBC PBS NBC CNN too)
Simply show the Hamas videos from Dec 7th with a background sound of quotes from the koran about rasin people.
Rarely says
From your mouth to G’d’s ear
Wellington says
Since the ICJ is an arm of the UN, it will make no difference what Israel demonstrates because the entire United Nations and all its divisions are a cruel and malevolent farce—and why what’s left of decent nations (a declining number due to pure evil, enormous stupidity or rank cowardice) should withdraw from the UN entirely.
Altair says
You should talk about the countries positions of ?? claim.
As i am Brazilian, i am shamed that country (dominated by leftist Government and pro Hamas) supported that claim.
Also, China, Russia and even North Korea voted against the claim.
https://twitter.com/JustLuai/status/1745476978415685963
Isabella van der westhuizen says
The ANC are buffoons. They are intellectually weak and think they are very clever. This will soon be exposed on the world stage. A country with 20 000 murders a year and no electricity is hardly in any position to pronounce on complex regional conflicts.
Muhammad Bhayat says
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
May the peace and blessings and mercy of ALLAH be on you
Islaam, means peace and Muslims are people of peace. Do not base your opinion on what propogandists like Fitzgerald and this Jihad Watch Platform say. Do your own research. I urge you o read The Noble Qur’aan, the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) and visit your nearest mosque or Islamic Centre to find out for yourself. If you can, visit Palestine and speak to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and Westbank. Your guide will tell you not to talk to them or buy any merchandise from them. Ignore them. You will discover a hospitality and warmth that you is touching.
The Jews were always given refuge by Muslims when they were hounded and persecuted by European Christians. They record a period in their history as the The Golden Era of Jews-this occurred under Muslim rule. You can check their history books yourself. The current conflict was created by atheists masquerading as Jews to further their own interests.
The case of South Africa against Israel is overwhelmingly supported the whole world. This support is unavoidable as people see the acts of aggression and the atrocities that Israel is conducting against the Palestinians. Israel, by its actions has sounded its own death knell.
This is the beginning of the end of Israel.
Red Bee says
I did my own research, You can read about it on my website: “is islam a threat” (click my name above this reply).
I did study the koran. As for your other suggestions, I concluded that: Those who let themselves be “informed” can easily fall victim to propaganda!
Ernie says
Now , don’t start your comment with swearing and vile words you ignorant demonic taqiyya uttering person . It is NOT the beginning of the end of Israel . It is part of the continuing demise of islam and its deplorable fruits . Israel is doing a great job and the whole free Western World should follow in Israels footsteps . Jihad is WAR and we’ll bring that war to you , islam and dar el islam G-d willing . You wage war on/against us ? We’ll destroy you and your NAZI-ideology in good time , G-d willing .
Ernie says
Islam means SUBMISSION , Muhammad . And I’ll never SUBMIT to your NAZI-IDEOLOGY “Muhammad Bharat”. Muslims are people of WAR (jihad) . You divide the world in the “dar el islam”= house of islam and the “dar el harb”” =house of war . You’ll wage”jihad”= “holy war for the sake of islam”on non muslims whenever and wherever you get the opportunity to do so . Don’t even try to talk about inner jihad ; I know . I’ll never be a “dhimmi”. YOU’RE LYING through your teeth , and that’s taqiyya . Do you really think I’m falling for your LIES , Muhammad ? Do you think I’m that thick ? I’ve seen the troubling fruits of your ideology , so be-gone you infidel !
Ernie says
Sorry , Bhayat , not Bharat……
Mike says
!Viva Israel! (And I’m a non-Jew.)
Am Yisrael Chai! Death to genocidal, Luciferian Islamofascism!
James Lincoln says
Muhammad Bhayat,
Your post represents the viewpoint of a very devout muslim.
Muhammad Bhayat says
Why is my comment blocked?
Ernie says
Your comment is not blocked . You’re complaining for nothing ; a bad habit I detected in o so many followers if islam . Bad , very Bad !
somehistory says
It wasn’t “blocked,” but if only Truth could be published here, your comments would be blocked because it is all a putrid bunch of feculent lies.
No one here will be convinced by your lying propaganda. You are simply wasting your time.