British author and commentator Douglas Murray blasted South Africa for accusing Israel of genocide in its war against Hamas, calling the claim “preposterous.”

This week, South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the United Nations’ top court, the International Court of Justice.

Murray appeared on Talk TV with host Julia Hartley-Brewer, who asked if claims of genocide against Israel had any foundation, Murray replied, “Absolutely not. As I’ve mentioned before to you, Julia, the population of Gaza has grown by almost a million in the last 16 years, so it’s a very strange type of genocide where the population actually increases.”

“You mention, of course, this preposterous action by this South African government,” he continued. “If you go to South Africa, as I have been, you’ll find that South Africa is one of the most beautiful and amazing countries in the world — and it’s one of the most hideously run. Major cities like Johannesburg have massive electricity blackouts. There’s horrible corruption by the government; they can’t provide the most basic things to the people. Terrible violence and much more, and horrible, horrible poverty in the townships.”

“Its government is profoundly anti-Semitic, has been anti-Israel for years,” Murray said of South Africa’s government. “And they always do this sort of thing to try to sort of distract attention among their own population from the failings of their own government.”

Murray pointed out that one of Great Britain’s leading anti-Israel advocates had joined with South Africa in its efforts: “It’s very telling, by the way, Julia, that one of the people that’s joined this initiative of the South Africans to try to take Israel to the Hague for a non-existent war crime, one of the people who’s joined that effort is Jeremy Corbyn.”

Douglas Murray slams South Africa’s “preposterous action” in The Hague after they accused Israel of committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

“South Africa’s government is profoundly antisemitic – has been anti-Israel for years.”@JuliaHB1 | @DouglasKMurray pic.twitter.com/K4gde1ZpP1

— TalkTV (@TalkTV) January 11, 2024

Murray followed by tweeting, “South Africa support[s] Hamas which carried out the 7th October massacres. Hamas is not a state, but South Africa is. So they should be taken to The Hague for supporting genocide. Please report this to the Met Police and others so South Africa can be held to account for its crimes.”

South Africa support Hamas which carried out the 7th October massacres. Hamas is not a state, but South Africa is. So they should be taken to The Hague for supporting genocide. Please report this to the Met Police and others so South Africa can be held to account for its crimes.

— Douglas Murray (@DouglasKMurray) January 12, 2024