1Berita English – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has declared that the ongoing conflict in Gaza cannot be halted by anyone, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Despite facing accusations of genocide by South Africa at the ICJ, Israel vehemently rejects these charges, considering them as baseless defamation.

During his televised speech on Saturday night, Netanyahu asserted that neither The Hague nor anyone else could stop Israel’s actions. The case brought to the international court is expected to take years, with decisions on interim measures possibly coming within weeks.

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would disregard any orders to cease hostilities, risking further isolation on the global stage. The country is already under increasing international pressure to end the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza and widespread suffering in the besieged enclave.

Despite this, Israel maintains diplomatic and military support from the United States. Protesters in various cities, including Washington, London, Paris, Rome, Milan, and Dublin, rallied on Saturday demanding an end to the war.

Some demonstrators in Washington questioned President Joe Biden’s suitability due to his strong support for Israel during the conflict.

Israel argues that ending the war would signify a victory for Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 and is determined to destroy Israel.

The broader impact of this conflict includes the recent hearing at the international court, where South Africa presented its complaint against Israel, citing a surge in civilian deaths and suffering in Gaza as evidence of alleged genocidal intent.

In response, Israel has urged the court to dismiss the case, asserting its right to defend against a ruthless enemy. Israel contends that South Africa largely ignores the role of Hamas and dismisses efforts to minimize civilian casualties.