Israel's Actions in Gaza Draw Criticism from South Africa
Israel's military offensive in Gaza against Hamas militants has sparked condemnation from South Africa's foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, who accused Israel of ignoring the recent ruling by the United Nations' top court. Pandor stated that Israel has defied the ruling by continuing to kill hundreds of civilians in just a matter of days. South Africa has questioned why an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been issued in a case filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Pandor expressed her country's commitment to proposing alternative measures to the global community in order to put an end to Israel's killing of civilians. Although she did not provide specific details, Pandor emphasized the urgency of addressing the situation.
In a preliminary ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. However, the court did not mandate an immediate cease-fire. It also directed Israel to urgently provide basic humanitarian aid to Gaza and submit a report on its compliance with the ruling within a month.
South Africa's foreign ministry hopes that Friday's ruling and Israel's adherence to it will be discussed at the United Nations at a wider level, potentially as early as Wednesday. However, since the ruling, Israel has continued its military offensive, claiming to target Hamas militants. According to figures from the Health Ministry in Gaza, the number of Palestinian deaths in the war has now exceeded 26,700, with 150 reported in the last 24 hours alone. The Health Ministry's data does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but it highlights that a majority of the victims are women and children.
Foreign Minister Pandor expressed her disappointment and stated that she believes the court's rulings have been disregarded by Israel. She pointed out that the recent events in Gaza demonstrate Israel's perception that it has the freedom to act as it wishes. Pandor drew parallels to inaction in history, citing the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, where over 800,000 people were brutally killed as the world stood by.
While the ICJ's ruling is legally binding on Israel, there is a possibility of U.N. sanctions if Israel is found to be breaching the orders. Nevertheless, potential sanctions may be hindered by the United States, a close ally of Israel, as it holds the power to veto such actions.
Israel has maintained that it is acting in self-defense and has abided by international law while striving to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza. The country accuses Hamas of embedding within civilian areas, making it challenging to avoid collateral damage.
South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, has consistently compared Israel's policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime. This regime, characterized by white minority rule, restricted the majority Black population to designated areas until it ended in 1994.
Foreign Minister Pandor affirmed South Africa's determination to pursue its case against Netanyahu in the ICC. The country accuses the Israeli Prime Minister of war crimes and seeks an arrest warrant. South Africa's case was filed in November, and the ICC presidency and prosecutor were briefed on the matter during a recent visit to The Hague for the ICJ ruling. Pandor expressed concern over the slow progress and voiced her dissatisfaction with the prosecutor's response regarding the difference between issuing a warrant for Putin but not for Netanyahu.
Israeli, like Russia, is not a signatory to the ICC's treaty and does not recognize the court's authority.
As the situation in Gaza escalates, international condemnation continues to grow, with South Africa firmly taking a stand against Israel's actions. The conflict appears far from reaching a resolution, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire. The eyes of the international community are now on the United Nations, awaiting further actions and responses to address this grave humanitarian crisis.
