WNAM Monitoring: South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has commended the ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) urging the occupying state of Israel to take measures to prevent any acts of genocide in Gaza.
Speaking at a press conference following the court session, Pandor expressed gratitude to the ICJ judges for their swift handling of the matter, considering the emergency situation that demands the protection of innocent civilians in Palestine.
She emphasized the need to ensure the cessation of harm to civilians, save lives, and underscored that preserving lives must be guaranteed by protecting civilians and preventing harm or killing.
“All United Nations members have legal tools they can use to protect civilians. In this case, where lives are at stake, South Africa had to do what was possible to protect hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and not stand idly by. It must do everything possible to protect hundreds of thousands of Palestinians,” Pandor stated.
She clarified that South Africa submitted a request to the ICJ under the Genocide Convention, an agreement ratified by both Israel and South Africa. The judges called on Israel to take necessary measures to protect civilians and halt the destruction. The implementation of ICJ orders cannot occur without a ceasefire.
Pandor emphasized that a ceasefire is a fundamental condition for implementing the ICJ decision. “Israel cannot continue its crimes against Palestinian civilians without consequences,” she said.
Reading the court’s decision carefully, Pandor highlighted that these are direct orders and precautionary measures to prevent genocide. She stated, “We are not determining the essence of the accusation and the intention of genocide today, but we are dealing with the orders. This decision, due to the commission of genocide, will compel states that supported Israel to hold Israel accountable under international law.”
