TRANSCRIPT
Protestors have gathered outside the Hague where the genocide case against Israel has commenced.
There has been no sign that Israel's bombardment of Gaza is subsiding, with escalating concerns from health workers for the one remaining operating hospital in Gaza.
South Africa are the first to make their case, before Israel will follow with their response.
Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi made the opening address at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
"South Africa is not alone in drawing attention to Israel’s genocidal rhetoric against Palestinians in Gaza. 15 United Nations Special Rapporteurs and 21 members of the United Nations working groups have warned that what is happening in Gaza reflects a genocide in the making and an overt intend to destroy the Palestinian people under occupation."
Israel flatly denies accusations of genocide, with authorities condemning the case.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was firm in his denial in an address to media from Tel Aviv.
"What a twisted world. And it is the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), the most moral army in the world, which does everything to avoid harming the uninvolved, that is accused by the representatives of the monsters of genocide. The hypocrisy of South Africa knows no bounds."
The U-S continues to shut down accusations of genocide against Israel, including National Security spokesperson John Kirby who spoke at a White House briefing.
"We have said repeatedly that we believe these allegations, this case is unfounded and that there's no basis for accusations of genocide against Israel. That's not a word that ought to be thrown around lightly. And we certainly don't believe that it applies here."
Israeli supporters and pro-Palestinian protesters also clashed outside the top UN court as the case commenced.
Protester and brother of a man kidnapped by Hamas, Michael Levy, called the genocide accusations absurd.
"Today there are absurd accusations against Israel that it is committing genocide while Hamas is committing crimes against humanity every day that my brother and the rest of the hostages are there, and no one is talking about that and I am here to raise the voice of my brother and the rest of the hostages."
But pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for a permanent ceasefire, as more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict on October 7, following attacks by Hamas which killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages.
Sara Galli is one of those protesters.
"There has been almost a hundred days of indiscriminate bombing on the civilian population in Gaza, so I expect the judges to order by law, right, and to call it what it is, it’s a genocide against civilians in Gaza."
This case occurs amid continued bombardment of Gaza, despite Israel stating they would shift to a more targeted campaign, and begin to scale down troops at least in northern Gaza.
There are particular fears for the one remaining functioning hospital - which is based in Deir al-Balah.
Injured Palestinians poured into al-Aqsa hospital as exhausted medics struggled to help casualties from Israel's ground assault.
Doctor Khaled Abu Awaimer said the hospital was running out of medical supplies and that many of the remaining medics had themselves been displaced already and feared having to flee once more.
"Today the area around al-Aqsa was hit, all ambulances were destroyed, we even started to run out of medical supplies, and sadly, we have cases we can't do anything about, we have nothing to offer, so we feel completely helpless. This is very sad and bad to be honest. We hope that any side will be able to at least ensure the ability for the medical staff to work."
Just days ago, four medical workers and two patients were killed after an Israeli airstrike hit one of the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances on Wednesday.
A funeral was held for the members on Thursday.
Israel has previously accused Hamas of operating out of hospitals and ambulances, something the militant group has denied.
