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South Africa to sue US, UK for complicity in Gaza genocide

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Jan 2024 23:30
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South African attorney Wikus Van Rensburg expressed concerns over the ongoing financial and resource support from the US to "Israel," which effectively enabled crimes against the people of Gaza.

Protesters carry flags and banners outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 (AP)

Nearly 50 South African lawyers, led by attorney Wikus Van Rensburg, are gearing up to file a lawsuit against the United States and the United Kingdom, asserting their complicity in Israeli forces' war crimes in Palestine, Anadolu Agency reports. This initiative follows South Africa's filing of a genocide case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Rensburg, the driving force behind the legal action, aims to prosecute those complicit in the crimes through civilian courts, collaborating with legal professionals in the US and UK.

In an interview with Anadolu, Rensburg emphasized the need to hold the US accountable for its actions and highlighted the forthcoming legal proceedings against Washington and London.

"The United States must now be held accountable for the crimes it committed," Rensburg stated. "No one says stop, enough is enough."

He referenced the lack of accountability for the US' crimes in Iraq and underscored the importance of giving due significance to such issues.

"What happened in Iraq is an example of this; no one held the US accountable for the crimes it committed in the Middle Eastern country as the issue was not given the necessary importance," he noted.

Rensburg expressed what he described as concerns over the ongoing financial and resource support from the US to "Israel," which effectively enabled crimes against the people of Gaza.

"The US is busy spending more money and more resources to (allow Israel) commit the crime," he noted, while further pointing out that the ICJ case against "Israel" for genocide will guide their lawsuit against the US and UK.

"If the ICJ trial against Israel is concluded in favor of South Africa, the US may face sanctions even if it does not accept the verdict. The ICJ ruling will also strengthen a case against the Joe Biden administration."

Rensburg stressed the importance of holding the US responsible for its crimes, drawing parallels with cases filed against former US President George Bush in the 2000s.

"The US must now be held responsible for the crimes it has committed. It must accept its responsibilities."

The legal team, now comprising 47 lawyers, has written an open letter to the leaders of the US and UK governments, asserting their accountability in the matter.

"You could not avoid responsibility. The US must now be held accountable for the crimes it committed."