Israel's representatives in the US have been instructed to apply pressure at every level to get SA to drop its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case in which it is accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

On Monday, Israel's embassy in Washington and all its consulates across the US received a classified cable about SA, news website Axios reported, according to News24.

‘We are asking you to immediately work with lawmakers on the federal and state level, with governors and Jewish organisations to put pressure on SA to change its policy towards Israel and to make clear that continuing their current actions, like supporting Hamas and pushing anti-Israeli moves in international courts, will come with a heavy price,’ Axios quoted the cable as saying.

The ICJ instructed Israel several times to take emergency action based on SA's allegations. That included telling Israel it must let fact-finders into Gaza, and that it must ensure that sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians.

The prospect that the ICJ may find Israel is committing genocide – after a legal process that will take many years – has apparently featured in decisions around arms exports to Israel from the likes of the US, UK and Germany, which have a legal duty to not support genocidal acts.

Israel wants its diplomats to get US legislators to issue statements that threaten SA with trade consequences should it not change course, Axios said.

It also wants those legislators, and Jewish organisations in the US, to contact SA representatives.

At a state level, Israel is reportedly seeking hearings about SA's stance and the threat of legislation targeting it, even if such laws are not finally passed.

Full News24 report