Israel doubles-down on Hamas war as top minister warns 'no force' will stop its army

Israel has rejected charges of genocide insisting it has a right to defend itself (Image: Getty)

Israel said "no force" will stop its armed forces from continuing to pursue its objective to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz reiterated his country has the right to defend itself as he responded to charges of genocide the South African government lodged with the International Court of Justice.

Following a second day of hearings in The Hague, Katz said: "I commend our Israeli legal team for representing us with honour and pride at the International Court of Justice in The Hague against South Africa’s display of hypocrisy.

He added: "No force will prevent Israel from exercising its right to self-defence. We will continue to fight on the legal, political, and military fronts until all 132 of our hostages return to their loved ones."

The Israeli legal team said Tel Aviva had taken extraordinary measures to limit civilian casualties (Image: Getty)

On Friday, the International Court of Justice wrapped up a third round of hearings on emergency measures requested by South Africa, which says Israel’s military incursion in the southern city of Rafah threatens the "very survival of Palestinians in Gaza" and has asked the court to order a ceasefire.

Tamar Kaplan-Tourgeman, one of Israel’s legal team, defended the country’s conduct, saying it had allowed in fuel and medication to the beleaguered enclave.

"Israel takes extraordinary measures in order to minimise the harm to civilians in Gaza," she told The Hague-based court.

However, the comments came as the Israeli military confirmed that dozens of Israeli protesters attacked a truck in the occupied West Bank, beating its driver and setting the vehicle on fire in an apparent attempt to prevent aid from reaching Gaza.

Earlier this week, dozens of protesters halted an aid convoy bound for Gaza. They pulled crates of food and other aid off the trucks and destroyed them.

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The protesters are opposed to sending aid into Gaza, saying it strengthens Hamas and reduces the pressure on the militants to release scores of hostages abducted in the October 7 attack that ignited the war.

Around 600,000 Palestinians have been driven out of Rafah since the beginning of last week, the UN said.

Some 80 percent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million Palestinians have fled their homes since the start of the war, with many relocating multiple times.

Israel opened a second crossing into the north and took other steps to facilitate aid under heavy pressure from the United States after an Israeli strike killed seven workers with the World Central Kitchen charity last month.