ICJ order a victory for international law, human rights & justice

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order handed down in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel as a victory for international law, human rights and justice.

While the court has not ordered a complete ceasefire in Gaza, it has put Israel to terms to prevent further loss of life and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches thousands of displaced Palestinians.

Ramaphosa said that as a people who had experienced dispossession, state-sponsored violence and apartheid, South Africa would never be a passive bystander to similar crimes being perpetrated against another people.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked South Africa’s legal team for launching its first case against another country in the world’s highest court.

He’s now appealing to Israel to abide by the measures imposed on it to prevent genocide in the occupied territory of Gaza.

"We have called Israel’s acts on Gaza genocidal acts, acts for which Israel should and must be held accountable."

Ramaphosa said Israel’s actions against Palestinians for the past 100 days had been disproportionate following the 7 October killings of 1,000 Israelis by militant group, Hamas.

"There should now be a more considered effort towards a ceasefire and negotiations should commence on a permanent two-state solution."

Ramaphosa said South Africa will not waiver in its support for the Palestinian people and their quest for self-determination because South Africa’s own painful history obliged it to do no less.