Netanyahu Says World Court Can’t Stop Israel’s War In Gaza

Israel will pursue its war against Hamas until victory and will not be stopped by anyone, including the world court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a defiant speech, as the fighting in Gaza approached the 100-day mark, Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy and Bassem Mroue reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Netanyahu made clear that Israel would ignore orders to halt the fighting, potentially deepening its isolation. I Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו Facebook

Netanyahu spoke after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague held two days of hearings on South Africa’s allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel has rejected as libelous and hypocritical.

South Africa asked the court to order Israel to halt its blistering air and ground offensive in an interim step.

“No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else,” a haughty Netanyahu said in TV remarks Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias.

The case before the ICJ is expected to go on for years, but a ruling on interim steps could come within weeks. Court rulings are binding but difficult to enforce. Netanyahu made clear that Israel would ignore orders to halt the fighting, potentially deepening its isolation.

Israel has been under growing international pressure to end the war, which has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians in Gaza and led to widespread suffering in the besieged enclave but has so far been shielded by US diplomatic and military support.

Without the $3.8-billion annual military subsidy, Israel’s forces would collapse.

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