South Africa says 'no chance' to withdraw ICC case against 'Israel'
3 Min Read
“Standing by our principles sometimes has consequences, but we remain firm that this is important for the world, and the rule of law," South Africa's justice minister said.
-
South Africa's Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola addresses the media outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on Thursday, January 11, 2024. (AP)
South Africa has promised to go ahead with its genocide Case against "Israel" at the International Criminal Court despite Donald Trump's executive order cutting US assistance to the African country for its "aggressive" action against the United States' biggest ally.
There is "no chance" South Africa would withdraw its ICJ case, regardless of any threats or actions by Trump according to South Africa's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola who added, “Standing by our principles sometimes has consequences, but we remain firm that this is important for the world, and the rule of law."
The executive order signed by Trump halts aid and assistance to South Africa, and promises to "promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation."
South Africa's case against 'Israel'
South Africa submitted a genocide case against "Israel" at the end of 2023 to the International Criminal Court, urging the international court to take measures against Israeli authorities for violating the United Nations Genocide Convention.
Ireland formally joined the South African case in December 2024 aiming to "broaden the interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State," and shortly after, Cuba announced its intention to join in the case as well.
Previously, Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Egypt, and Turkiye joined the case.
South Africa submitted its "evidence of genocide" to the ICJ in October 2024 as a "memorial" - a document consisting of "750 pages of text supported by annexes of over 4,000 pages" in forensic details, to establish that the case is "not just a plausible case of genocide, but indeed genocide," according to the South African Minister of Justice.
Since then, South Africa has faced harassment, not only from the US but also from Israeli intelligence, who were threatening South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, who said she and her family were receiving threatening online messages from Israeli agents and intelligence services.
Israeli officials and leaders were outraged by the lawsuit, with Netanyahu saying in a statement, "The very claim that Israel is carrying out genocide against Palestinians is not only false, it’s outrageous, and the willingness of the court to deliberate it at all is a mark of disgrace that will not be erased for generations."
