SA can't have normal relations with Israel as long as it commits genocide in Gaza - Pandor

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor says South Africa cannot have normal relations with Israel for as long as it commits war crimes and genocide against Palestinians. 
 
She says South Africa also can't be party to Israel's actions that reduces the possibility of statehood for Palestinians. 
 
Delivering a lecture to the Rio Branco Diplomatic Academy in Brazil, Pandor said Israel's attacks on Gaza should be investigated by an independent mechanism led by the United Nations. 
 
Gaza has faced more than six months of relentless attack from Israel in retaliation for the killing of over 1,000 Israelis by militant group, Hamas, last October. 
 
Minister Pandor said Israel's attacks on Gaza had rendered most of the strip uninhabitable. 
 
She said that government was gravely concerned that Israel was continuing what could plausibly be genocidal acts in disregard of the provisional measures imposed on it by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January. 
 
Israel is due to deliver a third monthly report to the court this week in respect of that order. 
 
Pandor said by committing genocidal acts, Israel could not claim to be acting in self-defence.
 
"An occupying state cannot exercise control over a territory it occupies and simultaneously militarily attack that territory on the claim that it is foreign and poses an exogenous national security threat." 
 
Pandor has reiterated the call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.