Lindsay Dentlinger14 February 2024 | 6:35

Pandor repeats assertion that Israel ignoring ICJ order to restrain war in Gaza

This as South Africa again approached the court on Tuesday over Israel’s decision to ramp up military operations in Rafah, the only safe zone left for Palestinians.

Pandor repeats assertion that Israel ignoring ICJ order to restrain war in Gaza

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor. Picture: @DIRCO_ZA/X

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor has repeated her assertion that Israel is ignoring an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to restrain its war in Gaza.

This as South Africa again approached the court on Tuesday over Israel’s decision to ramp up military operations in Rafah, the only safe zone left for Palestinians.

During debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Tuesday, Pandor said South Africa’s decision to launch a genocide case against Israel had been hailed around the world.

Noting the role South Africa has played on the global stage and on the continent, Pandor said that she was horrified by those who think South Africa should rather focus on the country’s domestic problems rather than get involved in international human rights issues.

"The case is particularly significant in that the ICJ is seized by such an important matter of peace and security where it is a country of the south that is asking the world’s highest court to hold a country of the north accountable for their violations of the Geneva Convention." 

Pandor called out the DA for condemning war crimes against Ukraine but not responding in the same way against Israel. 

"We all know that the silence of the Democratic Alliance has been deafening."

Pandor closed off the first day of debate to chants of "Free Palestine" from African National Congress (ANC) MPs, many of whom were wearing the traditional Arab scarf.