South African President Emphasizes Justice After ICJ Ruling

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described that the International Court of Justice has affirmed his nation’s decision to charge Israel with genocide during its military offenses in Gaza. This information was sourced from Reader Wall news.

International Court of Justice Decision

On January 26th, the UN’s highest court refrained from ordering a ceasefire in Gaza but demanded that Israel take steps to limit death and damage during its military offensive. South Africa, the country which initiated the case, had called for the court to instruct Israel to cease its operation.

While the Court did not dismiss genocide charges against Israel concerning its military offenses in Gaza, it also didn’t make a decisive verdict in the case.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Statement

In a national television broadcast, President Ramaphosa applauded the International Court of Justice’s ruling as “a victory for international law, for human rights, and above all, for justice.” He stressed the significance of this decision in South Africa’s mission to achieve justice for the people of Gaza, alluding to the shared experience of discrimination, dispossession, and state-sponsored violence.

South African’s Stand

President Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa’s position to not be passive observers as they’ve seen these crimes before. He quoted a statement by Nelson Mandela when he became South Africa’s first democratically elected President, “We say again today, never, never and never again shall it be that acts of genocide are perpetrated with impunity as we, the international community look on.”

Call to Ceasefire Negotiations

President Ramaphosa shared his belief that following this ruling, there should be more concerted efforts towards a ceasefire. The narrative of a permanent two-state solution was also forward to enable Israel and Palestine to co-exist as independent states. He assured the commitment of South Africa to the Palestinian cause and their pursuit of self-determination.

South Africa’s Role

South Africa presented the ICJ application on December 29 last year, affirming that Israel was breaching its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The ICJ, being the United Nation’s principal judicial organ, ruled that Israel should immediately deploy a set of interim measures to prevent any more acts of genocide in Gaza, refrain from such acts, and undertake effective measures to preserve evidence relating to acts of genocide.

Ramaphosa expressed the South African Government’s satisfaction with the ICJ’s decision and its mindfulness about the extent of the catastrophe unfolding in the region. The rulings laid down were expected to be abided by all countries, indirectly addressing the U.S., U.K., and others supporting Israel.

The South African President concluded by expressing the anticipation that Israel respects the rulings handed down by the International Court of Justice. He pointed out that the cries of the Palestinian people for justice have been acknowledged by a prominent organ of the United Nations after over half a century of occupation, dispossession, oppression, and apartheid.

These topics are related to developments in South Africa, the United Nations, and the Israel-Palestine Conflict.