US declares it does not view attacks in Gaza as 'genocide'
US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller evaluated the US position regarding the case filed against Israel during a press briefing at the department.
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When a journalist asked what the US administration would do next, noting that Turkey has also supported the case filed by the Republic of South Africa against Israel at the ICJ, Miller stated that they would not be involved in the process.
Furthermore, stating that the accusation of "genocide" is a very serious crime against humanity and that this word should not be used lightly, Miller said, "Regarding the US, I can say that we do not see acts that could be defined as genocide."
Miller added that they have expressed their concerns regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, that they are clearly opposed to the displacement of Palestinians, and that they view these issues as a priority.
White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby also argued in his assessment of the matter during the daily press briefing at the White House that South Africa's application to the ICJ was "meritless and without any basis in fact."
'GENOCIDE' CASE
On December 29, the Republic of South Africa filed a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requesting provisional measures against Israel, on the grounds that Israel's actions in Gaza since October 7 violated the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli stated that South Africa's application to the International Court of Justice against Israel regarding the violation of obligations under the "Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" was welcomed.
The Israeli administration reacted to South Africa, which accused it of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, but announced that it would not boycott the case.
The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also described the Republic of South Africa's filing of the case against Israel as a "concrete step" toward accountability and expressed its support.
According to the ICJ's case procedure, the plaintiff and defendant countries can each add one judge to the panel of 15 judges. Additionally, the defendant, Israel, can be represented by 4 lawyers at the hearing and can submit letters written by representatives of supporting countries to the court.
The ICJ may issue an order for Israel to halt its attacks in Gaza.