Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Today is day 97 of the war. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on a one-on-one update.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, Netherlands, opened hearings initiated by South Africa against Israel on charges of “genocide” against Palestinians during the ongoing war in Gaza this morning. Horovitz delves into the allegations and how they avoid any mention of the atrocities commited by Hamas on October 7, which sparked the war against the terror group.

The bench comprises 15 permanent judges and the two ad hoc judges from Israel and South Africa. Former Israeli Supreme Court president Aharon Barak is representing Israel, to much blowback in some corners in Israel.

South Africa is initially asking the International Court of Justice to order an immediate suspension of Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip as the first step in a case that is likely to take years to resolve. Would Israel adhere to such a ruling? 

As Horovitz wrote in an oped yesterday, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken "indicated fairly clearly" that the Biden administration’s patience with Israel’s leadership is running low. What other messages did Blinken impart?

For the latest updates, please look at The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Live blog January 11, 2024

Hague hearing begins as South Africa accuses Israel of ‘genocide’ in war with Hamas

‘We should be worried’: Israel faces peril at The Hague in Gaza ‘genocide’ case

Our government and our essential ally, utterly at odds on how to safeguard our future

THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

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IMAGE: A statue of the late South African president Nelson Mandela stands in a street as members of the Ramallah-based Al-Kamandjati orchestra rehearse ahead of a ceremony organized to mark a landmark 'genocide' case filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice, on January 10, 2024. (Photo by Marco Longari / AFP)

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