Israeli strike on Khan Younis house kills seven ahead of ICJ's genocide hearing

Israel has bombarded the southern and central Gaza Strip overnight, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is to hold hearings in a case filed by South Africa over the regime’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza.

The official Palestinian WAFA news agency reported on Thursday that seven people were killed and 25 others injured in an Israeli attack on a residence in Khan Younis city in southern Gaza.

The Israeli forces bombed a house belonging to the Abu Namous family in the “al-Maskar” area, west of Khan Younis, according to local sources, adding that women and children were among the casualties.

Also, the Israeli bombing of a residential building near al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza, killed at least eight people, according to medical sources. The building was a center for evacuees taking shelter inside.

Gaza’s Government Media Office says 40 have been killed and wounded in the attack.

Moreover, Israeli recent strikes in Rafah have killed 12 Palestinians, including four children.

Israel has heavily bombarded southern Gaza, despite its status as a so-called “safe” section of the territory currently sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians.

The latest attacks come as Israel has intensified bombing and ground incursions in central and southern Gaza, with at least 147 people killed in the past day.

The UN Human Rights Office in Occupied Palestinian Territory, in a statement, said it is deeply concerned that Israeli forces “have placed civilian lives at serious risk by ordering residents from various parts of Middle Gaza to relocate to Deir el-Balah – while continuing to conduct air strikes on the city.”

Iran supports South Africa’s filing of ICJ case against Israel over 'genocidal acts' in Gaza

Iran voices support for South Africa’s “responsible, courageous and honorable” move to file a genocide case against the Israeli regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Israel's new crime comes as the International Court of Justice is set to start hearing South Africa's case for urgent provisional measures on Israel's genocide in Gaza.

The two sessions of the hearing were initially scheduled for two hours on Thursday and Friday morning, but “have been extended by one hour, further to a request from Israel,” the ICJ said on Wednesday.

South Africa filed the lawsuit against Israel at the end of December, after nearly three months of Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza.

The application said Israeli attacks breach the UN’s Genocide Convention, and urged the court to “order Israel to cease killing and causing serious mental and bodily harm to Palestinian people in Gaza.”

Iran, many other countries, and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) have already expressed support for the case.

Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Nearly 59,000 Palestinians have also been wounded.

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