South Africa praised the International Court of Justice’s order for Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah, Gaza. Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor expressed approval of the strong language used, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, during an interview with SABC.
South Africa has brought a case to the ICJ, accusing Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which began after the October 7 Hamas attack, of amounting to “genocide.” While the court deliberates on this, it has issued interim measures to prevent acts of genocide.
Despite this, Israel has continued its operations, particularly in Rafah, prompting South Africa to seek further interim orders. Pandor emphasized that the ICJ’s recent ruling strengthens their case and underscored the urgency for global action.
Pandor voiced skepticism about Israel’s compliance, highlighting the need for UN member states and the Security Council to enforce international law. She criticized Israel’s long-standing impunity and called for a collective global response to halt the ongoing violence.
The Gaza conflict erupted following Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack, which resulted in over 1,170 deaths, mainly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Hamas militants also took 252 hostages, with 121 still in Gaza, including 37 reportedly deceased.
Israel’s counteroffensive has claimed at least 35,800 lives in Gaza, predominantly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry controlled by Hamas. Pandor urged the international community to act decisively to end the suffering and uphold justice.
