Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, stated on Wednesday that the United States does not see any acts in Gaza that constitute genocide. This comment came in response to the initiation of legal proceedings by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding genocide due to its war on the Gaza Strip.
Miller mentioned in a regular press conference, "These are allegations that need to be carefully verified… We do not see any actions that constitute genocide… This is what the State Department has determined."
The White House also viewed the lawsuit filed by South Africa at the ICJ, which accused Israel of committing "genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza, as "baseless" and "yielding negative outcomes."
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, noted, "This lawsuit is not based on any facts."
These statements were made in light of South Africa's request on Tuesday for the ICJ to issue an urgent order declaring Israel in violation of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The court announced that it would hold public hearings on January 11 and 12, following South Africa's request. Meanwhile, Israel has stated it will defend itself against these allegations.
The ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and has caused extensive destruction to the sector, leading to a humanitarian disaster for its 2.3 million inhabitants.
The International Court of Justice was established after World War II and is the highest judicial body of the United Nations, adjudicating disputes between states. While the court's decisions are legally binding, it lacks substantial power to enforce them.
