The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has condemned Israeli President Isaac Herzog for comments he made about Palestinians in Gaza, citing them in a provisional measures order against Israel. The order, published on 26 January 2024, stated that Palestinians in Gaza had “plausible rights to protection from genocide” and highlighted Herzog’s assertion that all Palestinians were “unequivocally” responsible for the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. Herzog had said: “The entire [Palestinian] nation out there that is responsible. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved.”
Herzog, who is due to visit London next week for talks with UK ministers, has pushed back against the ICJ’s citation, claiming his remarks were misrepresented by selective quoting. He argues that he also stated Israel was “acting in accordance with international law”, a claim contradicted by evidence including a statement from the International Association of Genocide Scholars that Israel is committing genocide. The ICJ’s order supported UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini’s assertion that the Gaza crisis was “compounded by dehumanising language”.
As president, Herzog has largely aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition’s policies in Gaza. During a visit to Gaza in July, he repeated the official Israeli line that Israel was not responsible for starvation, blaming Hamas instead. He said: “Israel is adamantly committed to the rules of international humanitarian law. Even in the midst of war, we are doing everything possible to help civilians in need.”
Herzog’s planned UK visit is seen as an attempt to present a diplomatic coup amid international outrage over Israel’s actions, which have killed over 65,000 Palestinians and caused widespread starvation. Once viewed as a potential moderate voice, Herzog is now regarded as an enabler of Netanyahu’s coalition, particularly on the diplomatic front. His role as head of state, largely symbolic, has seen him represent Israel in countries uncomfortable with Netanyahu.
