In a groundbreaking announcement during his state visit to Qatar, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in its conflict with Hamas. The president expressed deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, characterizing it as a place where genocide is occurring, likening it to a concentration camp.
President Ramaphosa, while condemning the actions of Hamas in launching a deadly attack on Israel, criticized the Israeli response, particularly highlighting the dire conditions in Gaza’s besieged hospitals where people were described as “dying like flies.”
“As South Africa, we have accordingly, together with many other countries in the world, saw fit to refer this whole Israeli government action to the International Criminal Court,” President Ramaphosa declared.
Mia Swart, a visiting professor at Witwatersrand University’s Law School specializing in international law, shed light on the potential trajectory of the situation, stating, “The ICC would most probably have to investigate what is being claimed here. It would be a drawn-out process.”
Israel, maintaining its stance of acting in self-defense, reiterated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that the country is making “extraordinary efforts” to minimize civilian casualties.
South Africa, known for its vocal support for Palestinians, sees parallels between the struggles in the Middle East and the historical fight against apartheid. The African National Congress (ANC) party, in response to the current atrocities in occupied Palestine, expressed support for a parliamentary motion calling for the closure of the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria and the suspension of all diplomatic relations with Israel.
The announcement comes amid large pro-Palestinian protests in South African cities, accompanied by a smaller pro-Israel march disrupted by counterprotesters. The Jewish Board of Deputies, representing the Jewish community in South Africa, has reported a significant rise in antisemitism in the country since the outbreak of the conflict. The situation unfolds against a backdrop of complex geopolitical dynamics, with South Africa taking a leading role in advocating for accountability and justice on the international stage.