Netanyahu Reportedly Wants Alan Dershowitz to Defend Israel Against Accusations of Genocide at International Court
An Israeli spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague to defend itself against South Africa’s accusation the country is committing genocide with its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. As news broke of Israel’s willingness to appear before the court, so too did a scoop from Axios’s Barak Ravid that a name familiar to many Americans may help defend Israel: Alan Dershowitz.
“Israeli officials say Netanyahu wants Alan Dershowitz to represent Israel at the @CIJ_ICJ hearing next week about South Africa’s accusation that it is conducting genocide in Gaza. I called @AlanDersh who didn’t deny and said: ‘I can’t comment about it at this time,’” Ravid wrote on x/Twitter Tuesday.
Dershowitz, a former Harvard law professor, is a famed defense lawyer who has represented everyone from OJ Simpson to to Harvey Weinstein, and even Donald Trump during his first impeachment. Ravid’s scoop came hours after Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy told reporters, “The State of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice at The Hague to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel.”
“We assure South Africa’s leaders, history will judge you, and it will judge you without mercy,” Levy added.
South Africa appealed to the ICJ on Friday for an urgent order to stop Israeli military operations in Gaza, arguing Israel was violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, of which it is a signatory.
Levy defended Israel’s tactics in Gaza and accused Hamas of using Palestinians as human shields and “waging [war] from inside and underneath hospitals, schools, mosques, homes and UN facilities.” Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets on New Year’s Eve, targeting Israeli civilian centers.
“Lawyers representing South Africa are preparing for the hearing scheduled on Jan. 11 and 12, Clayson Monyela, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation,” Reuters reported of the next steps at the ICJ.
