SA will have succeeded in highlighting Palestinian plight regardless of ICJ ruling - Pandor

CAPE TOWN - Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor says however the world's highest court rules in its genocide case against Israel on Friday, South Africa would have succeeded in highlighting the plight of innocent Palestinians to the world.
 
In a few hours, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to rule on provisional measures South Africa asked it to enforce to ensure Palestinian lives are spared and that they receive better access to humanitarian aid.

ALSO READ:

- SA vs Israel genocide case: The world’s eyes on ICJ ruling

- Pandor, Blinken reaffirm need to protect Gaza civilian lives ahead of ICJ ruling

- US-SA relations won’t suffer from Israel genocide case, says Blinken
 
Pandor said the case is also putting pressure on world institutions to do the job for which they were created.
 
South Africa lodged a dispute against Israel in terms of the United Nations (UN) Genocide Convention for its military operation in Gaza in retaliation to an attack by Hamas on 7 October.
 
While the UN court is still to hear arguments in the main matter in which South Africa is accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, the country is hoping that on Friday the ICJ will order Israel to stop its war in the occupied territory. 

Pandor said the case is also about creating awareness of the lack of justice and freedom for Palestinians over many decades. 

“Today, I think, the Palestinian issue is front and centre of the world and this is a very important achievement through this case brought by South Africa.”

She said the Genocide Convention and the establishment of the ICJ were designed to protect innocent people from the atrocities of war. 

“Succeed or fail, the real analysis and judgment will be on the court itself.”

ICJ president Joan Donoghue is expected to deliver the order of the 17 judges in The Hague at 2 pm.