Senator Graham Rejects UN Court Ruling on Israel

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., strongly criticized the International Court of Justice for ordering Israel to stop military operations in Rafah, declaring that the United Nations’ top court “can go to hell.”

Graham also stated that Israel should and will ignore the ICJ’s ruling.

The ICJ’s ruling, which lacks enforcement powers, did not call for a full cease-fire but demanded that Israel cease military operations in the southern Gaza city.

“As far as I’m concerned, the ICJ can go to hell,” Graham said in a post on X. He criticized the ruling as unreasonable, considering the necessity of Israel’s operations to combat Hamas militants using Palestinians as human shields.

In 2022, Russia ignored a similar order from the ICJ to cease its assault on Ukraine.

Israel had already dismissed the impending ruling on Thursday.

“No power on earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza,” government spokesperson Avi Hyman said in a press briefing.

Graham was not the only congressional Republican to condemn the ICJ’s ruling, which arose from a case brought by South Africa.

“Our ally Israel is fighting in Rafah to free the hostages and destroy Hamas’ last stronghold. They must complete this mission,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said in a post to X. He criticized the ICJ for its anti-Israel bias and called on Biden to veto any UN Security Council resolution enforcing the decision.

An expert also criticized The Hague and South Africa for what they view as antisemitism in the ruling.

“The ICJ’s ruling is a stark reminder of how South Africa continues to embrace antisemitic ideologies and support state-sponsored terror,” said Charles Asher Small, executive director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy.

Graham echoed these sentiments, calling for action against international justice organizations associated with the UN due to their overwhelming anti-Israel bias.