Israel on Thursday (May 16) slammed South Africa for its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, alleging that the 'genocide' case was "presenting biased and false claims" that "rely on unreliable Hamas sources".

Kicking off the two-day&nbsp;hearing in The Hague, South Africa&nbsp;accused Israel of stepping up 'genocide' in Gaza and alleged "Israel's genocide has continued apace and has just reached a new and horrific stage".

Meanwhile, a statement from the Israel Foreign Ministry, as quoted by Reuters, said that "Israel acts in accordance with international law and its humanitarian obligations...while implementing measures to minimise harm to civilians and civilian facilities."

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It also called on the ICJ, also known as the World Court, "to reject South Africa's appeal and to bring the abuse of the Court to an end."

<h2>Order Ceasefire in Gaza, demands South Africa</h2>

South Africa has also implored the world court to order a ceasefire throughout Gaza.

Previously, in January, the ICJ had ordered Tel Aviv to do everything to prevent genocidal acts and enable humanitarian aid to Gaza.

However, the court, as per AFP, had stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

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Now, South Africa contends that the current situation, most notably the operation in the crowded city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken shelter, requires fresh ICJ action.

The Rafah campaign, argued Vaughan Lowe, a lawyer for South Africa, is "the last step in the destruction of Gaza and its Palestinian people".

"It was Rafah that brought South Africa to the court. But it is all Palestinians as a national, ethnical and racial group who need the protection from genocide that the court can order," he added.

However, Israel's foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein in a statement slammed South Africa and said that the nation's "claims are both morally and factually distorted and constitute an abuse of the Genocide Convention and the ICJ."&nbsp;

Israel is scheduled to respond to South Africa's 'genocide' accusations on Friday (May 17).

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel on Thursday (May 16) slammed South Africa for its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, alleging that the 'genocide' case was "presenting biased and false claims" that "rely on unreliable Hamas sources".

Israel on Thursday (May 16) slammed South Africa for its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, alleging that the 'genocide' case was "presenting biased and false claims" that "rely on unreliable Hamas sources". Kicking off the two-day hearing in The Hague, South Africa accused Israel of stepping up 'genocide' in Gaza and alleged "Israel's genocide has continued apace and has just reached a new and horrific stage". Meanwhile, a statement from the Israel Foreign Ministry, as quoted by Reuters, said that "Israel acts in accordance with international law and its humanitarian obligations...while implementing measures to minimise harm to civilians and civilian facilities." Also read | House Republicans pass bill mandating weapons shipment to Israel It also called on the ICJ, also known as the World Court, "to reject South Africa's appeal and to bring the abuse of the Court to an end." Order Ceasefire in Gaza, demands South Africa South Africa has also implored the world court to order a ceasefire throughout Gaza. Previously, in January, the ICJ had ordered Tel Aviv to do everything to prevent genocidal acts and enable humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the court, as per AFP, had stopped short of ordering a ceasefire. Also read | US blasts China after Putin-Xi meet, says 'you can't have it both ways' Now, South Africa contends that the current situation, most notably the operation in the crowded city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken shelter, requires fresh ICJ action. The Rafah campaign, argued Vaughan Lowe, a lawyer for South Africa, is "the last step in the destruction of Gaza and its Palestinian people". "It was Rafah that brought South Africa to the court. But it is all Palestinians as a national, ethnical and racial group who need the protection from genocide that the court can order," he added. However, Israel's foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein in a statement slammed South Africa and said that the nation's "claims are both morally and factually distorted and constitute an abuse of the Genocide Convention and the ICJ." Israel is scheduled to respond to South Africa's 'genocide' accusations on Friday (May 17). (With inputs from agencies)

At ICJ, South Africa alleges Israel 'stepping up' genocide in Gaza; Tel Aviv slams 'biased and false claims'

South Africa requests new emergency measures over Israel's attacks on Rafah from the International Court of Justice. The measures form part of an ongoing case South Africa filed at the ICJ in December last year accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention during its offensive against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel war: South Africa drags Israel to UN court, demands constraints on IDF actions

Watch top headlines of the hour: - Fresh Israel strikes hit Lebanon - Scuffle in Taiwan's Parliament - Thunderstorms pound Houtson in US - UN: Recieved only 12% funds for Sudan - Stop Israel's Rafah offensive: South Africa to ICJ

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The US military completed the installation of a temporary pier to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian aid into Gaza from the Mediterranean Sea. Watch in for more details!

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On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was openly questioned regarding post-war plans for the Gaza Strip by his own defense chief, who vowed to resist Israel's long-term military rule over the wrecked Palestinian enclave. Watch to know more.

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Israeli forces are pressing from both the north and south as the Rafah operation continues. From the north, they intend to retake a territory from Hamas.

Israel War: Israel escalates attacks on Rafah as aid agencies warn of Gaza  on the brink of famine

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A split had been festering in Israel's war cabinet. Now it has burst out into the open. Defence minister Yoav Gallant has challenged Prime Minister Netanyahu to come up with a post war plan for Gaza.

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On the anniversary of the Nakba, Palestinians mourn the tragic loss and continued struggle for justice. Watch to know more.

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When Eugene O'Neill said, "There is no present or future - only the past, happening over and over again - now," and when Karl Marx said, "History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce," were they speaking of Palestinians and their 'Nakba'?

On Wednesday (May 15), Palestinians commemorated the 1948 "Nakba" (catastrophe), marking the time when hundreds and thousands of them had their homes wrenched from them as the state of Israel was born. The 76th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba was marked even as fighting rages on in Gaza, rendering hundreds of thousands homeless.

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<h2>"Keys" from the past, and present</h2>

According to reports, as a symbol of their loss, displaced Palestinians are holding onto the keys to their damaged or destroyed homes, a tradition dating back to the mass displacement of 1948.

Most people in Gaza, as per Reuters, are descendants of the Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes by the "nakba" of 1948.&nbsp;

The keys to their homes have been handed down generation to generations, a symbol of what they consider their right to return to their homes. Now, keys to homes bombarded in the ongoing Gaza war are also taking on a similar symbolic meaning.

"There is no catastrophe worse than this one," an 80-year-old Palestinian woman Umm Mohammed told the news agency.

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Umm is a survivor of the original Nakba, which happened when she was only a child in the southern town of Beersheba. Surviving that catastrophe, she had come to Gaza, where she has spent most of her life and where she now lives in a tent in the southern city of Rafah.

"I've been here for about 80 years and a catastrophe like this, I have not seen. Our homes have gone, our children have gone, our property has gone, our gold has gone, our incomes have gone - nothing is left. What is left for us to cry over?" she asked.

Another displaced Palestinian, 58-year-old Faridah Abu Artema currently residing in a tent encampment near Rafah said, "My mother and father told me about the Nakba, the first one, but this Nakba here is worse."

This is destruction. They've destroyed us - what we have seen, no one else has seen. This is a tragedy."

Seven months into the war, the conflict in Gaza has already claimed the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians and has displaced almost 800,000 more.

(With inputs from agencies)

When Eugene O'Neill said, "There is no present or future - only the past, happening over and over again - now," and when Karl Marx said, "History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce," were they speaking of Palestinians and their 'Nakba'?

When Eugene O'Neill said, "There is no present or future - only the past, happening over and over again - now," and when Karl Marx said, "History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce," were they speaking of Palestinians and their 'Nakba'? On Wednesday (May 15), Palestinians commemorated the 1948 "Nakba" (catastrophe), marking the time when hundreds and thousands of them had their homes wrenched from them as the state of Israel was born. The 76th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba was marked even as fighting rages on in Gaza, rendering hundreds of thousands homeless. Also read | Pro-Palestinian protest: University Irvine demonstration leads to police action, several arrested "Keys" from the past, and present According to reports, as a symbol of their loss, displaced Palestinians are holding onto the keys to their damaged or destroyed homes, a tradition dating back to the mass displacement of 1948. Most people in Gaza, as per Reuters, are descendants of the Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes by the "nakba" of 1948. The keys to their homes have been handed down generation to generations, a symbol of what they consider their right to return to their homes. Now, keys to homes bombarded in the ongoing Gaza war are also taking on a similar symbolic meaning. "There is no catastrophe worse than this one," an 80-year-old Palestinian woman Umm Mohammed told the news agency. Also read | Israeli defence min opposes Bibi, endorses 'non-hostile Palestinian governing alternative' for Gaza post-war Umm is a survivor of the original Nakba, which happened when she was only a child in the southern town of Beersheba. Surviving that catastrophe, she had come to Gaza, where she has spent most of her life and where she now lives in a tent in the southern city of Rafah. "I've been here for about 80 years and a catastrophe like this, I have not seen. Our homes have gone, our children have gone, our property has gone, our gold has gone, our incomes have gone - nothing is left. What is left for us to cry over?" she asked. Another displaced Palestinian, 58-year-old Faridah Abu Artema currently residing in a tent encampment near Rafah said, "My mother and father told me about the Nakba, the first one, but this Nakba here is worse." This is destruction. They've destroyed us - what we have seen, no one else has seen. This is a tragedy." Seven months into the war, the conflict in Gaza has already claimed the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians and has displaced almost 800,000 more. (With inputs from agencies)

'Keys' become a symbol of Palestinian plight amid war in Gaza: 'This Nakba here is worse'

Israel-Hamas war: Israeli defence chief challenges Benjamin Netanyahu over post-war Gaza plans

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its seventh month a concerning shift in tactics by the Palestinian militant group has raised the spectre of prolonged and intractable conflict. Watch in to know about the Hamas' Guerrilla tactics.

Israel-Hamas War: Hamas adapts Guerrilla tactics to survive Israeli offensive

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its seventh month a concerning shift in tactics by the Palestinian militant group has raised the spectre of prolonged and intractable conflict.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar. Anwar said he met a Hamas delegation in “line with Malaysia’s stance and commitment to continue to play a role in stopping attacks and violence in Gaza and Rafah.”

Israel-Hamas War: Malaysia PM Ibrahim meets Hamas leader Haniyeh in Qatar amid US concerns

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar yesterday. Anwar said he met a Hamas delegation in “line with Malaysia’s stance and commitment to continue to play a role in stopping attacks and violence in Gaza and Rafah.”

Israel-Hamas War: Malaysia PM Ibrahim meets Hamas leader Haniyeh in Qatar

Talks over a ceasefire in Gaza have reached a stalemate due to Israel's operations in Rafah, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Tuesday. Watch in for more details!

Israel troops press further into eastern Rafah | Egypt, Israel trade blame over Gaza aid

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