The first country to bring Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its genocidal war in Gaza, which has left the enclave in ruins and taken over 48,000 lives, was South Africa.
Despite threats and assistance cuts from the Trump administration, South Africa has promised not to drop its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told the Financial Times that there is “no chance” that South Africa will back out of the case it filed in December 2023.
“Standing by our principles sometimes has consequences, but we remain firm that this is important for the world, and the rule of law”, he stated.
The first country to bring Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its genocidal war in Gaza, which has left the enclave in ruins and taken over 48,000 lives, was South Africa. There is now a ceasefire in effect, which began on January 19.
In response to the ICJ lawsuit against Israel and a new land appropriation law that it believes takes property away from South Africa’s White minority, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week that halted financial help to the country.
Additionally, the United States claims that South Africa is collaborating with Iran to “develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements”.
The directive stated that the United States could not condone the South African government’s infringement of human rights in the nations or its “Undermining United States foreign policy, which poses national security threats to our Nation, our allies, our African partners, and our interests”.
In the interview with FT, Lamola stated, “We do have a good relationship with Iran, but we don’t have any nuclear programs with them, nor any trade to speak of”.
The expropriation measure was recently passed into law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, allowing the state to take land without paying compensation if it is “just, equitable, and in the public interest”.
The government claims that Trump’s assertions are false, misleading, and disinformation and that the law attempts to remedy the injustices caused by apartheid.
Ramaphosa said the United States was only providing cash for HIV/AIDS prevention in the nation.
A number of nations joined the lawsuit when South Africa filed a complaint against Israel, claiming that Israel had violated the 1948 Genocide Convention in Gaza. These nations include Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Spain, Belize, and Turkey.
Separate arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza have been issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Additionally, Trump has authorized the ICC to look into the Israeli authorities.
