The International Court of Justice has referenced statements by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in its recent ruling concerning the conflict in Gaza. The court identified several comments by senior Israeli officials as contributing to what United Nations officials describe as “dehumanizing language” surrounding the humanitarian crisis.
Among the cited remarks was President Herzog’s assertion that all Palestinians in Gaza bore responsibility for the October 7th attacks, claiming “the entire nation out there is responsible” and dismissing notions of uninvolved civilians. The court’s provisional measures order indicated that Palestinian rights requiring protection from genocide faced credible risk of irreparable harm.
Herzog has contested how his comments were presented, arguing the court selectively quoted him while omitting his statements about Israel operating within international legal boundaries. However, multiple international bodies and genocide scholars have challenged such characterizations of Israel’s military operations.
The Israeli president, who maintains a largely ceremonial role, has consistently aligned with the government’s position throughout the conflict. During a July visit to Gaza, he echoed official claims denying Israeli responsibility for food shortages, instead attributing distribution problems to Hamas interference.
Herzog’s upcoming diplomatic visit to London, where he’s scheduled to meet with government ministers, comes amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign. The trip appears designed to bolster Israel’s diplomatic standing as global concern mounts over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Once considered a moderate voice from Israel’s Labor party tradition, Herzog has undergone a notable political evolution. He recently described previous support for West Bank withdrawal as “unrealistic” and no longer making “sense to Israelis” following last year’s attacks.
The president comes from a prominent Israeli political family, with his father having served as president and his uncle as the country’s renowned foreign minister. Before assuming the presidency, Herzog led the Labor party and made an unsuccessful bid for prime minister in 2015.
