Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday (January 9), talking about a lawsuit filed by South Africa against his country at the International Court of Justice.
It accuses Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people in its Gaza offensive.
Hearings in the ICJ case will begin on Thursday (January 11) asking for provisional measures, including an immediate suspension of Israel's military campaign.
But speaking during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Herzog accused South Africa of hypocrisy.
"Actually, our enemy is the Hamas. In their charter (they) call for the destruction and annihilation of the state of Israel, the only nation state of the Jewish people."
Israel's offensive in the Palestinian enclave followed an October 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas in which, according to Israeli authorities, 1,200 people were killed.
Since then, Israeli forces have laid waste to much of Gaza.
Health authorities there say more than 23,000 people have been killed.
Nearly all of the 2.3 million population have been driven from their homes at least once, causing a humanitarian catastrophe.
South Africa's case is that by killing Palestinians, causing them serious mental and bodily harm, and by creating conditions on life, quote, "calculated to bring about their physical destruction," Israel is committing genocide against them.
"We will be there at the International Court of Justice and will present proudly our case of using self-defence under our most inherent right under international humanitarian law."
Herzog claimed Israel was doing its "utmost" to prevent civilian casualties.
Israel blames Hamas over harm to civilians for operating amongst them, which the fighters deny.
Herzog also thanked the U.S. for "standing steadfast with Israel in this battle".
