A defiant Netanyahu says no one can halt Israel's war to crush Hamas, including the world court

Source: Associated Press

A defiant Netanyahu says no one can halt Israel’s war to crush Hamas, including the world court

BY NAJIB JOBAIN, SAMY MAGDY AND BASSEM MROUE
Updated 2:56 PM EST, January 13, 2024

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel will pursue its war against Hamas until victory and will not be stopped by anyone, including the world court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a defiant speech Saturday, as the fighting in Gaza approached the 100-day mark.

Netanyahu spoke after the International Court of Justice at The Hague held two days of hearings on South Africa’s allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel has rejected as libelous and hypocritical. South Africa asked the court to order Israel to halt its blistering air and ground offensive in an interim step.

“No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else,” Netanyahu said in televised remarks Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias.

The case before the world court is expected to go on for years, but a ruling on interim steps could come within weeks. Court rulings are binding but difficult to enforce. Netanyahu made clear that Israel would ignore orders to halt the fighting, potentially deepening its isolation.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-13-2024-62b05e26b1e00439d00e60c78f260ce5