An Israel ambassador tweeted a message of “GOOD LUCK” to Myanmar ahead of an international tribunal at The Hague over accusations the state committed genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority.

Ronen Gilor, the ambassador to Myanmar, wished the country’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi good luck in several tweets which have since been deleted, though Israel’s Haaretz newspaper has screenshots.

On Thursday, Israel’s foreign ministry said the ambassador’s tweets ahead of the hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague next month were a mistake.

“The ambassador’s tweet was a mistake and was immediately amended,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Israel forthrightly condemns the atrocities perpetrated against the Rohingya in the Rakhine region. Israel voted, a week ago, in favour of a UN resolution condemning the atrocities.”

Rohingya crisis in photos Show all 15 1 /15 Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees are reflected in rain water along an embankment next to paddy fields after fleeing from Myanmar into Palang Khali, near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh November REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees scramble for aid at a camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Betel leaves cover the face of 11-month-old Rohingya refugee Abdul Aziz whose wrapped body lay in his family shelter after he died battling high fever and severe cough at the Balukhali refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, December REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos An exhausted Rohingya refugee fleeing violence in Myanmar cries for help from others crossing into Palang Khali, near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh November REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Mohammed Shoaib, 7, who was shot in his chest before crossing the border from Myanmar in August, is held by his father outside a medical centre near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees try to take shelter from torrential rain as they are held by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after illegally crossing the border, in Teknaf, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugee children fly improvised kites at the Kutupalong refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Smoke is seen on the Myanmar border as Rohingya refugees walk on the shore after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border by boat through the Bay of Bengal, in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos People gather under heavy rain around bodies of Rohingya refugees after the boat they were using to flee violence in Myanmar capsized off Inani Beach near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos The remains of a burned Rohingya village is seen in this aerial photograph near Maungdaw, north of Rakhine State, Myanmar REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya refugees cross the Naf River with an improvised raft to reach to Bangladesh in Teknaf, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos A security officer attempts to control Rohingya refugees waiting to receive aid in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Hamida, a Rohingya refugee woman, weeps as she holds her 40-day-old son after he died as their boat capsized before arriving on shore in Shah Porir Dwip, Teknaf, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos Rohingya siblings fleeing violence hold one another as they cross the Naf River along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Palong Khali, near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh REUTERS Rohingya crisis in photos An exhausted Rohingya refugee woman touches the shore after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border by boat through the Bay of Bengal, in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh September Reuters

Mr Gilor had tweeted: “Encouragement for a good verdict and good luck!”

He followed up with another saying: “State Counsellor going to respond for Myanmar in the ICJ! GOOD LUCK!”

More than 730,000 Rohingya have fled into neighbouring Bangladesh following a crackdown by Myanmar’s military in 2017, which UN investigators have said was carried out with “genocidal intent”.

Ms Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto leader, will lead a delegation to defend against accusations filed at the ICJ by Gambia, on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, accusing Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya.

It comes as International Criminal Court judges approved a request from prosecutors to open an investigation into crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya.

In August this year, a UN report said Israel was among seven countries which have continued to sell arms to Myanmar despite its brutal military crackdown on the Muslim minority.

Two Israeli-made gunboats were delivered to Myanmar’s navy in April 2017, with the state-owned Israeli Aerospace Industry meant to provide at least two more boats.