Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-01-27 08:48:17
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a televised address to the nation on Friday, praised the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for ruling that its case against Israel had merit. The ICJ did not order an immediate cease-fire, but it did order Israel to take measures to avoid further deaths in Gaza and to allow humanitarian access. A significant majority of the 17 ICJ judges in The Hague ruled that South Africa has a plausible case against Israel under the International Genocide Convention.
The ruling involves provisional measures only, with a full verdict on the genocide allegation expected to take years. Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause since the advent of democracy in 1994. The ruling by the top UN court essentially orders Israel to make every effort to avoid killing Palestinians, prevent acts of genocide, and allow aid into Gaza.
Israel has criticized South Africa’s case as “antisemitic” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue to defend the country and its citizens in adherence to international law. However, Ramaphosa emphasized that Israel must respect the ICJ’s ruling, which is binding on Israel and all states that are party to the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.
The United States, also a party to the convention and a major supporter of Israel, expressed its belief that allegations of genocide are unfounded. Mia Swart, a visiting international law professor at South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand, suggested that while the provisional measures represent a victory for South Africa, implementation of the judgment by Israel looks unlikely.
The war between Israel and Hamas erupted after fighters for the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel in October. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 250. The Gaza health authority reported that 26,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began bombarding the Gaza Strip. The ICJ’s ruling has become the subject of widespread debate and consideration of its practical implications.
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