Mashatile says SA govt has ‘no regrets’ regarding genocide case against Israel
South Africa approached the ICJ alleging that Israel was engaging in acts of genocide in Gaza since it began its offensive in response to an attack by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023.
Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile on a two-day oversight visit in Eastern Cape. Picture: X/PresidencyZA
CAPE TOWN - Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the South African government has no regrets regarding its case against Israel.
He said even countries who were initially opposed to the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague have now changed their views.
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Mashatile was responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.
South Africa approached the ICJ alleging that Israel was engaging in acts of genocide in Gaza since it began its offensive in response to an attack by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023.
The deputy president told the NCOP that the country had a moral obligation to defend Palestinians.
“As South Africa, we have no regrets to bring about a lawsuit against the state of Israel in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.”
He said even those who were opposed to the lawsuit changed their views as the death toll rose, with over 10,000 children killed.
“We are happy that now, they too have now revised their views.”