Israeli President Slams UN Court Over Gaza Ruling

Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticizes the UN World Courts ruling on Gaza, claiming misrepresentation of his statements. The court cited evidence of incitement and dehumanizing language against Palestinians.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has accused the United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ) of misrepresenting his words in a recent ruling that ordered Israel to take steps to protect Palestinians and prevent a genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Court Cites Herzog's Statements as Evidence

The court's ruling on Friday cited a series of statements made by Israeli leaders, including Herzog, as evidence of incitement and dehumanizing language against Palestinians. Specifically, the court pointed to comments made by Herzog just days after a Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, which triggered Israel's war against the Islamic militant group.

During an October 12 news conference, Herzog had stated that "an entire nation" was responsible for the massacre, according to the report by the ICJ.

Herzog Denies Incitement, Cites Other Comments

However, Herzog has strongly objected to the court's interpretation of his words, arguing that it ignored other comments he made in the same news conference. He emphasized that he had also stated that "there is no excuse" for killing innocent civilians and that Israel would respect international laws of war.

Herzog expressed his disgust at the way the court "twisted" his words, accusing the ICJ of using "very, very partial and fragmented quotes" to support an "unfounded legal contention."

Court Orders Israel to Take Action

In its ruling, the ICJ stopped short of ordering an end to the Israeli military offensive in Gaza. However, it did order Israel to do everything in its power to prevent death, destruction, and any acts of genocide in the territory.

The court also issued a series of specific orders to Israel, including an end to incitement and the submission of a progress report to the court within one month.

Herzog's accusation against the ICJ highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and the international community over the conflict in Gaza. The court's ruling has put additional pressure on Israel to take action to protect Palestinian civilians and comply with international law.