South Africa’s president who took Israel to International court, is happy with the verdict

According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the International Court of Justice’s ruling on Friday has exposed the crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.

Ramaphosa expressed satisfaction that the United Nations has taken note of the Palestinian people’s calls for justice, as his country had filed a genocide case against Israel at the top U.N. court.

In a preliminary order, the court ruled that Israel must take all necessary measures to prevent deaths, destruction, and any acts of genocide in its offensive in Gaza. However, the court did not mandate a cease-fire by Israel, despite South Africa’s push for it.

In a live television address in South Africa hours after the ruling, Ramaphosa urged for a ceasefire to facilitate negotiations for “Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully.”

He also provided an explanation for South Africa’s decision to bring the case to the World Court. He drew a comparison between Israel’s actions in Gaza and South Africa’s dark history of apartheid, where a white minority ruled and imposed oppressive policies on black South Africans. These policies included forcing them to live in designated “homelands” and denying them the basic right of freedom of movement.

Israel and its 56-year occupation of the West Bank have faced criticism from leading rights groups in Israel and abroad, as well as Palestinians. They argue that the current system resembles apartheid, as it allegedly grants Palestinians second-class status and aims to uphold Jewish dominance from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

“Some have told us that we should mind our own business and not get involved in the affairs of other countries,” Ramaphosa said. “Others have said it is not our place. And yet it is very much our place as a people who know too well the pain of dispossession, discrimination, and state-sponsored violence.”

On Friday, the United Nations’ top court directed Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent death, destruction, and any acts of genocide in Gaza. However, the panel did not go as far as ordering Jerusalem to halt the military offensive that has caused significant damage to the Palestinian enclave.

The court’s ruling in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel offers little comfort to Israel and ensures that it will remain under the legal lens for years to come. This case delves into the heart of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. It will be challenging to accomplish the court’s half-dozen orders without a cease-fire or pause in the fighting.

“The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering,” said court President Joan E. Donoghue.

Israel’s wartime conduct was strongly criticised by the ruling, increasing international pressure to stop the ongoing offensive. The offensive has resulted in the death of over 26,000 Palestinians, extensive damage to Gaza, and the displacement of almost 85% of its population.

The decision to not contest the accusations caused great harm to the Israeli government. Israel, a nation established as a Jewish state in the aftermath of the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews were brutally killed during World War II.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fact that the court was willing to discuss the genocide charges was a “mark of shame that will not be erased for generations.” He also vowed to press ahead with the war.

The decision’s timing, which coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, increased its impact.

“Those truly needing to stand trial are those that murdered and kidnapped children, women, and the elderly,” former Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said, referring to Hamas militants who stormed through Israeli communities on Oct. 7 in the attack that set off the war. The assault killed some 1,200 people and resulted in another 250 being kidnapped.

The court also urged Hamas to free the hostages who remain in captivity.

On Friday, the death toll from the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip exceeded 26,000. The International Court of Justice has directed Israel to restrict deaths and damage, although it did not explicitly call for a cease-fire in the Palestinian territory.

According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, the number of casualties has reached 26,083 deaths and over 64,400 injuries since Oct. 7. 

This unfortunate situation began when militants from the territory launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,200 lives and the capture of around 250 hostages.

Mimi Mefo Info