China hails South Africa’s role in dragging 'Israel' to ICJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Sep 2024 18:56
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Beijing commends Pretoria's positive role in activating the international community's role regarding the war on Gaza.

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Judges enter the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, The Netherlands, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP)

China has lauded South Africa’s efforts in bringing "Israel" before the UN’s highest court over accusations of genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip, read a joint statement on Monday.

Beijing "commended the positive role that South Africa has played in activating the role of the international community in the conflict in Gaza," the statement mentioned.

It followed bilateral talks in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is on a state visit and will attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) from September 4-6.

The statement affirmed Beijing’s readiness to collaborate with Pretoria to achieve a "comprehensive, just and lasting settlement" to the Palestinian issue as soon as possible.

In late 2023, South Africa filed a case against "Israel" before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing it of violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

China also delivered an oral statement at the ICJ in February this year, asserting that the Palestinians’ armed struggle for independence from foreign and colonial rule is "legitimate".

"In pursuit of the right to self-determination, the Palestinian people’s use of force to resist foreign oppression and complete the establishment of an independent state is (an) inalienable right well founded in international law," indicated the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s legal advisor, Ma Xinmin, at the time.

South Africa expressed its gratitude to China for successfully facilitating a reconciliation dialogue among various Palestinian factions, culminating in the signing of the Beijing Declaration aimed at forming a national government.

According to the statement on Monday, both nations voiced their "concern about the serious humanitarian disaster" in Gaza resulting from the war and its broader impacts.

China and South Africa also called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2728, an immediate ceasefire, and the cessation of all hostilities, while supporting the resumption of a political process to resolve the Palestinian cause.