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In one of the most controversial cases to come before the International Court of Justice, South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel strongly rejects the claim as a "blood libel."
In its argument, South Africa points to a violent story in the Hebrew Bible, in which God commands the Israelites to wipe out the people of Amalek. It’s a story Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has evoked since the attack by Hamas on October 7. Why is this ancient story powerful in modern Israel – and a key part of the court case?
Professor Atalia Omer specialises in Jewish and Israeli history and politics at the University of Notre Dame in the US.
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