What do senior political officials around the world say about the trial against Israel in The Hague on charges of "genocide"? In response to the opening of hearings at the International Court of Justice on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "The United States believes that South Africa's petition distracts the world from important efforts to achieve peace and security."
The judges enter the ICC in The Hague \\ Netael Bandel
The German foreign minister also criticized the petition. "The conditions for a genocide charge require an intention to partially or collectively eliminate a group on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, race or religion," said Annalena Baerbock, citing Article II of the UN Convention on the Prevention of Genocide. "I do not find any such intention in Israel in its self-defense against the Hamas terrorist organization. We will closely monitor the process."
Earlier this week, representatives of Guatemala, Hungary and Britain also criticized the South African petition. "I don't think the petition helps, I don't agree with it, and I don't think it's right," British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said during his appearance in the House of Lords yesterday.
South African Prosecution Team, Photo: Netael Bandel
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijárto wrote on his Facebook page on Monday: "To accuse a country suffering from terrorist attacks of genocide is utterly absurd. Hungary's position was and remains: We back Israel's right to self-defense. We believe that the success of current counter-terrorism operations is in the best interest of the entire world so that such brutal attacks are not repeated anywhere in the world."
On the other hand, leaders and officials from Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Jordan, the Maldives, Pakistan, Namibia, Venezuela and Nicaragua supported the South African petition. Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva joined. "It is very clear that the measures and actions taken by Israel amount to genocide," Petro wrote.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said: "We hope for a speedy decision that reflects respect for human rights, and in particular respect for international humanitarian law."
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