JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Israel's submission to the International Court of Justice over allegations of genocide during the war in Gaza "baseless", saying it diverted attention from efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent the spread of war.
"The accusations of genocide are baseless," Blinken said at a press conference during a visit to Tel Aviv, reported CNN, January 10.
"It is especially painful considering that those who attack Israel. Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, as well as their supporters of Iran, continue to openly call for the extermination of Israel and the mass murder of the Jewish people," he continued.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Blinken also said that Israel has now agreed to allow the UN to carry out an "assessment mission" to begin the process of allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
"As I told the prime minister, the United States categorically rejects any proposal that advocates Palestinian settlements outside Gaza, and the prime minister reiterated to me today that this is not the policy of the Government of Israel," said Secretary of State Blinken.
It is known that Foreign Minister Blinken visited Israel again, in the midst of a raging war. He successively met with Foreign Minister Israel Katz, President Isaac Herzog, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Meanwhile, South Africa took the case against Israel to the ICJ based in The Hague. The first hearing in the case is scheduled to be held on Thursday this week.
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Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will deliver an oral statement before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on February 19, in a hearing related to the lawsuit filed by South Africa over Israel's alleged crimes of genocide in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Retno's presence was intended to encourage the Court to provide a legal opinion (advisory opinion) as requested by the UN General Assembly, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lalu Muhamad Iqbal
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