Israel on Friday defended its attack on the south of Gaza against claims of genocide, telling the UN’s highest court that any state would do the same. Denying a claim by South Africa that Rafah is the “endgame” of Gaza’s destruction, Israel said it entered the city to bring down a “military stronghold for Hamas”. It told the International Court of Justice it wishes no harm to Palestinian civilians and that Hamas militants were responsible for the war’s “suffering and pain”.
