ISTANBUL

The Arab League has voiced support for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its deadly military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The first session of the legal proceedings filed by South Africa is set to begin on Thursday at the ICJ in The Hague.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said late Wednesday that he hopes for “a fair and brave judicial ruling to halt this aggressive war and put an end to the Palestinian bloodshed.”

He hailed South Africa “for filing the lawsuit that prioritizes human values above all considerations.”

South Africa filed on Dec. 29 an application instituting proceedings against Israel before the ICJ.

The African country suspended relations with Israel on Nov. 21, in response to its army’s intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip. And later on Dec. 29, it filed a petition with the ICJ to initiate genocidal proceedings against Tel Aviv.

Israel has pounded the Palestinian enclave since a cross-border attack by Hamas in which Tel Aviv says killed around 1,200 people.

At least 23,357 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 59,410 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

About 85% of Gazans have been displaced, while all of the population is food insecure, according to the UN. Hundreds of thousands of people are living without shelter, and ⁠less than half of the aid trucks are entering the territory than before the start of the conflict.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio