Israel’s far-right Heritage Minister, Amichai Eliyahu, has once again advocated for using a “nuclear bomb” on the Gaza Strip. This comes as a renewal of his previous stance, stating, “Even in The Hague, they know my position.” Eliyahu made these comments during a tour in Hebron in the West Bank.
This is not the first time the hardline minister has expressed such views. In November, he asserted that dropping a “nuclear bomb” on Gaza is considered “an option.” Additionally, Eliyahu, known for his extremist rhetoric against Palestinians, called for encouraging the population of Gaza to migrate from the enclave.
South Africa has recently taken legal action, filing a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 29. The lawsuit seeks an injunction against Israel, alleging that Israeli attacks on Gaza violate the Genocide Convention. Eliyahu’s statements on Gaza have been included in the legal file presented to the court by the South African legal team.
After completing hearings on January 11-12, the court has commenced deliberations, examining the submissions and evidence presented by the parties involved.
The context of Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip stems from an October 7 Hamas attack. The Israeli military response has resulted in a significant toll, with at least 25,700 Palestinians killed and 63,740 others injured. While approximately 1,200 Israelis are believed to have lost their lives in the Hamas attack.
The aftermath of the Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced, facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Additionally, over half of the enclave’s infrastructure has been reported as damaged or destroyed, according to the United Nations.
