British PM Sunak called South Africa’s case “completely unjustified and wrong” and Canadian PM Trudeau indicated he doesn’t back it after the US branded it meritless

Canada does not accept the premise of South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice in the Hague which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.

Israel rejected as false the accusations that its state organs have genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza during the current conflict with Hamas, which was sparked by the terror group’s devastating shock attack three months ago. Trudeau stressed Canada was a strong backer of the UN’s top court, where the hearings are being held, but added: “Our wholehearted support of the ICJ and its processes does not mean that we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa.” Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly reiterated Trudeau’s comments.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak also believed South Africa’s case was “completely unjustified and wrong,” according to a spokesperson quoted by BBC news Friday.

“The UK government stands by Israel’s clear right to defend itself within the framework of international law,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

In a strong show of support for Israel, the German government Friday warned against “political instrumentalization” of the genocide charge as it announced it would intervene as a third party before the International Court of Justice.

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Israel was “defending itself” after the “inhuman” October 7 onslaught by Hamas and that Germany would intervene in the proceedings at the Hague under an article allowing states to seek clarification on the use of a multilateral convention.

“The UK government stands by Israel’s clear right to defend itself within the framework of international law,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

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