Fighting in Gaza, the situation of civilians and more

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, one of the lawyers representing South Africa, went on to say that there is an “extraordinary feature” in this case: “Israeli political leaders, military commanders and people in official positions have consistently and clearly announced their genocidal intentions.”

He said these statements “are then repeated by soldiers on the ground in Gaza as they engage in the destruction of Palestinians and Gaza’s physical infrastructure.”

“Israel’s particular genocidal objective lies in the recognition that, in reality, the enemy is not just the military wing of Hamas, or indeed Hamas, but embedded in the fabric of Palestinian life in Gaza.” Ngcukaitobi said.

He referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Israeli forces on October 28, before the imminent launch of their ground offensive in Gaza.

“Remember what Amalek did to you,” Netanyahu said in his speech, which Ngkukaitobi told the court “referred to the biblical command from God to Saul to take revenge on an entire group of people known as the Amalekites.”

Ngcukaitobi quotes a verse from the Book of Samuel that also mentions the Amalekites. “Do not spare them; kill men and women, boys and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys,” the verse reads.

Ngcukaitobi then quoted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“On October 9, Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed the army of the situation and said that since Israel has imposed a total siege on Gaza, there will be no electricity, food, water or fuel. Everything will be shut down. Because “Israel is fighting. ‘human animals’,” Ngcukaitobi told the court.

Ngcukaitobi continued: “Talking to soldiers on the Gaza border he informed them that he had released ‘all sanctions’ and that Gaza would not return to what it was before.”

“We will destroy everything. We will hit everywhere,” Ngcukaitobi quoted Gallant as saying.