THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) In a case that strikes at the heart of Israels national identity, South Africa formally accused the country of committing genocide against Palestinians and pleaded Thursday with the United Nations top court to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has vehemently denied the allegations. As a sign of how seriously they regard the case, Israeli leaders have taken the rare step of engaging with the court to defend their international reputation. Israel often boycotts international tribunals or U.N. investigations, saying they are unfair and biased.

During opening arguments at the International Court of Justice, South African lawyers said the latest Gaza war is part of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

The court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that amounts to a plausible claim of genocidal acts, South African lawyer Adila Hassim told the judges and audience in a packed room of the Peace Palace in The Hague.

The two-day hearing is the public side of one of the most significant cases ever heard in an international court. The dispute goes to the core of one of the worlds most intractable conflicts.

South Africa is seeking preliminary orders to compel Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza, where more than 23,000 people have died, according to the Gaza Health Ministry , which is run by Hamas.

Nothing will stop the suffering except an order from this court, she said.