Ramaphosa had previously called for the ICC to investigate Israel for its actions in the war against Gaza.
South Africa has submitted all necessary paperwork to the International Criminal Court (ICC), bringing war crime charges against Israel over its genocidal war in Gaza, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday, according to local outlet Eyewitness News.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 19,667 Palestinians have been killed and 52,586 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7. Palestinian and international estimates say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children.
‘Genocide’
Last month, President Ramaphosa condemned the Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7 during an emergency virtual BRICS+ meeting, accusing the Palestinian Resistance Movement of violating international law. He asserted, however, that Israel is committing genocide and blamed the raging conflict on the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territory.
Ramaphosa had previously called for the ICC to investigate Israel for its actions in the war against Gaza and had filed a request for this probe with a number of other countries.
The Israeli war on Gaza has further strained diplomatic relations between the African nation and Israel. Pretoria has long supported the Palestinian struggle for sovereignty, comparing it to South Africa’s own battle against apartheid in the 20th century.
Suspended Ties
Late last month, the country’s lawmakers endorsed a motion to suspend ties with Israel until Netanyahu commits to a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Israel recalled its ambassador from Pretoria, citing comments made by South African officials against Tel Aviv as the reason. Pretoria had earlier withdrawn its envoy and diplomatic staff from the country, as had Bolivia, Belize, Bahrain, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, and Türkiye.
On Monday, Ramaphosa reportedly requested that the ICC begin the probe into war crimes against Israel as soon as possible.
“Once a case has been referred to them, they need to take it up seriously. So South Africa, as well as a number of other countries, are presenting their full documentation to the ICC,” Eyewitness News quoted the South African president as saying.
BRICS
Apart from South Africa, Iran, which will officially join the BRICS next month, has urged the bloc to designate the Israeli government and military as terrorist organizations over atrocities against Palestinians.
Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu would face war crimes charges at the ICC “as the butcher of Gaza.”
Meanwhile, Pretoria has also warned South Africans against joining the Israeli army in the Gaza conflict, citing the risk of violating domestic and international law.
“Any person joining the IDF without the necessary permission of the NCACC (National Conventional Arms Control Committee) is breaking the law and can be prosecuted,” the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement on Monday.
(RT, PC)
I would request the SA government send copies of their documentation to the ICJ in case the ICC refuses to take the case. Do a google search for “bosnian genocide icj” or related, for reasons why.
Yes indeed. The ICJ is the one with the real power to make change, not the ICC.
How come Sinwar and Haniyeh haven’t been brought up to the ICC for war crimes based on the Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel which killed over 1200 people?
I’m betting you’re one of those people whom stands with Ukraine yet has no problem seeing Palestinians oppressed ethnically cleansed
20k dead Palestinians, majority being children babies women,how many times can you bomb hospitals schools churches mosques apartment blocks and say Hamas were there
“war crimes” the clue is in the name
How come nobody has been held accountable for the murdering of 2800 Palestinian children 38 journalists the past decade, surely all those children journalists couldn’t have been Hamas
Ramsphosa and his ANC have far more blood on their hands in South Africa and are in no position to point fingers at anyone. Also, why are they not vocal about the genocide taking place in Ukraine?
Because Hamas did not kill 1,200 Israelis. The Israeli military killed their own citizens, as per the Hannibal Doctrine. Google eye witness testimony from Yasmin Porat.
I think that everyone is entitled to their own opinion about the war in Gaza. I still remember from my childhood a song that we sang called “Let their be peace on earth and let it begin with me” South Africa is bringing a case to court and criticized for doing so. Do yourself a favor and read the 84 page document you might then have a different view afterwords. I salute South Africa for bringing this application while the whole world is watching. Some maybe to afraid for possible consequences/sanctions against them.