Thread by @Aizenberg55

🧵Fabricated Israel genocide claim relies on misrepresented quotes by Israeli officials to show “intent” necessary to prove genocide. South Africa ICJ genocide filing says @Isaac_Herzog “made clear” Israel INTENDS to kill all Palestinians. Here is full debunking of this lie. 1/

Did Herzog "make clear" at Oct 12 press conference that Israel won’t distinguish between militants & civilians and thus intends genocide of all Pals? NO. South Africa is LYING, Herzog actually said the exact opposite, see his words below said at 11:50 2/ news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-1…

South Africa & Israel haters deliberately ignore everything Herzog said at long press conference and misrepresent one comment. A reporter asked Herzog how Israel can alleviate impact of war on civilians “many of those who have nothing to do with Hamas.” Herzog responded: 3/

Herzog was asked a follow up question to this specific comment telling Herzog he “seemed to hold the people of Gaza the civilians of Gaza responsible for not removing Hamas and therefore by implication that makes them legitimate targets.” Herzog rejected this notion saying: 4/

Herzog noted and often comments on use of Hamas of civilian shields to attack Israel and thus the challenge. But he repeatedly noted the plan was to remove civilians from harms way. Here are three other comments by Herzog from the SAME press conference: 5/

In the SAME press conference Herzog is asked “what is the plan?”; Herzog's response is below, adding a comment about fighting terrorism. Nothing about intending to kill civilians but the challenge of fighting Hamas who hides among civilians. 6/

South Africa then cites Herzog’s words to “uproot evil” as referring to "genocide" of Palestinians but words in tweet and interview cited by South Africa specifically says Hamas not Pals. The “evil” cited is clearly Hamas, but once again South Africa and others knowingly lie. 7/

What about writing on bombs, evidence of genocide? One can argue merits of such actions but proof of genocide? No. It’s a common practice in war. NY Times covered this exact thing as a nice human interest story in Ukraine in 2023, but for Israel it’s somehow evil genocide. 8/

Main “evidence” South Africa has against Herzog is a misrepresented comment Herzog specifically clarified in the 10/12 press conference. Numerous tweets, comments and articles by Herzog saying the opposite (civilians are not a target) are ignored. Next is just a small sample: 9/

Oct 15: In an interview on CNN, Wolf Blitzer asks Herzog about civilians. Herzog’s answer (excerpts) are shown below. Nothing about killing all Palestinians, but the opposite. 10/ transcripts.cnn.com/show/cnr/date/…

Nov 5: In NY Times op-ed Herzog makes clear war is only with Hamas, goal is to remove civilians from battlefield and Palestinians will be better off without Hamas. South Africa won’t cite this – just a quote out of context from long press conference. 11/ nytimes.com/2023/11/03/opi…

Nov 16: Herzog on ANI interview makes clear civilians alerted in advance, acknowledges there are many innocent civilians and the goal is to remove Hamas. Herzog focuses on theme of how civilians are used by Hamas as shields. No intent to genocide. 12/

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1725150439945977919

Dec 5: Herzog on MSNBC interview made clear war was only with Hamas and discussed actions to protect civilians with warnings and safezones. Nothing about Palestinians or genocide. 13/ thehill.com/policy/interna…

Citing Herzog as example of Israel's “intent to genocide” is an example of "maximum intent to lie" and how Israel libel works. Misrepresent one quote, ignore massive contrary evidence, even in the exact same press conference, repeat & repeat the lie and spread it. Orwell. 14/

South Africa's ICJ filing is filled with lies & misrepresented quotes like this one from Gallant debunked below. Amazing how such hateful trash is allowed in an international court like this. END

https://twitter.com/Aizenberg55/status/1742221136207794675