South Africa has accused "Israel" of violating one of the measures imposed on it by the International Court of Justice, ordering the occupation to protect Palestinian civilian lives. 

South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor highlighted how Israeli occupation forces directly killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians just days after, and in spite of, the ICJ ruling.

“I can’t be dishonest. I believe the rulings of the court have been ignored. Hundreds of people have been killed in the last three or four days. And clearly, Israel believes it has the license to do as it wishes,” she told reporters in Pretoria, deriving parallels between Gaza and Rwanda amid the silence of the world on the Palestinian death toll.

Moreover, Pandor also highlighted how the International Criminal Court treated Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin differently in their respective cases. Reportedly, it seemed significantly easier for the ICC to charge Putin for war crimes, but Netanyahu has been let off the hook. 

“I asked him [ICC prosecutor] why he was able to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Putin and is unable to do so for the prime minister of Israel. He did not answer that question. But I read into some of what he said that the investigations are still underway.” 

Pandor then revealed South Africa's intention to propose more measures that would halt Israeli aggression against civilians to the global community. 

Pandor calls on the Global South's solidarity 

In an exclusive statement to Al Mayadeen on January 27, Pandor affirmed that the details of the ICJ decision and temporary measures which "Israel" has been mandated to comply with are indicative of the seriousness with which the International Court of Justice is dealing with the lawsuit filed by her country.

She appealed to African and Middle Eastern countries and all the countries of the Global South to stand in solidarity with Palestine to follow up with the court case.

"We want civil society and governments across Africa, the Middle East, and the rest of the Southern countries, in particular, to ensure that we all stand together with the people of Palestine and ensure the collective pursuit of this case."

"Now, what we want is we would like other countries to join South Africa in the case."

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor described the International Court of Justice's decision as historic.

In an exclusive statement to #AlMayadeen, she emphasized that it marks the… pic.twitter.com/AeG5cwnoQQ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 27, 2024