South African FM heads to The Hague for ICJ 'Israel' order
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Naledi Pandor is leading a South African team to hear the outcome of the ICJ's interim measures application.
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Judges and parties sit during a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 12, 2024 (AP)
South Africa's Foreign Minister has traveled to The Hague to represent the country when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issues its decision in a genocide lawsuit against "Israel".
According to a Foreign Ministry statement released on Thursday, Naledi Pandor is leading a South African team to hear the outcome of the ICJ's interim measures application.
News24, a South African news website, reported Wednesday that South Africa expects the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule this Friday on whether it will grant emergency measures to stop the war on Gaza.
When asked about the matter, a spokesperson for South Africa's Justice Ministry told Reuters, "No communique yet," while a spokesperson for "Israel's" Foreign Ministry said he "was not aware and was looking into it."
South Africa asked the ICJ earlier this month in its lawsuit against "Israel" to order an emergency suspension of "Israel's" devastating war in Gaza, stating that it is committing genocide.
"Israel" miserably tried to dismiss the genocide claim and labeled it as "grossly distorted" using the right of "self-defense" and Hamas as an excuse.
In the initial ruling, the ICJ will not rule on whether "Israel" is committing genocide. Instead, it will rule on the possibility of applying emergency measures, meant as a kind of "restraining order" while the court studies and investigates the full case, which usually takes years.
Additionally, Indonesia has taken legal action against "Israel", filing a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the Israeli entity's violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to reports from the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Jakarta submitted the case to the ICJ in The Hague amid the ongoing brutal bombardment of the besieged enclave by the Israeli entity.
'Israel' accuses S. Africa of being 'legal arm of Hamas'
The National Post reported on Thursday that the Israeli Foreign Ministry leveled petty accusations against South Africa, alleging that the country is acting as the "legal arm" of Hamas.
The claims came during two days of preliminary hearings at the United Nations' top court in The Hague.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lior Haiat tweeted, "Today, we witnessed one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history, compounded by a series of false and baseless claims."
