Cape Town – The South African Cabinet has strongly reiterated its call for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a stance echoed by African leaders during the recent African-Saudi Summit in Riyadh, hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The summit denounced the targeting of civilians and the Israeli government’s violations of international law.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, speaking at a media briefing on Monday, emphasized the Cabinet’s deep concern over the Israeli government’s atrocities against Palestinians. These include attacks on a United Nations School in Gaza, where hundreds of children seeking refuge were massacred, and ongoing assaults on hospital staff, patients, and infrastructure.
Ntshavheni highlighted that on 17 November 2023, South Africa, along with Comoros, Djibouti, Bolivia, and Bangladesh, referred the Palestine-Israel situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). This action aims to investigate the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, holding those responsible accountable. This move follows the Palestinian Authority’s 2018 request to the ICC, but Ntshavheni believes the recent atrocities in Gaza warrant renewed focus and support from state parties.
The Minister expects the ICC to issue warrants of arrest for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, given the ample evidence and public statements of genocidal intent. Ntshavheni criticized the ICC’s delay in investigating despite its jurisdiction since 2021 and the Palestinian Authority’s initial referral.
South Africa anticipates other state parties will join the call to end Israeli impunity. Ntshavheni warned that failure to issue arrest warrants by the upcoming Conference of Parties in mid-December in New York would signal a significant failure in global governance.
Ntshavheni also pointed out the alarming number of children, UN staff, and journalists killed in the last month, surpassing annual deaths in all conflicts over the last three years. These deaths, according to the Minister, result from the Israeli government’s actions, which are not defensive but aimed at clearing Gaza of Palestinians and occupying it.
The South African Cabinet’s stance reflects a strong commitment to international law and human rights, advocating for an urgent resolution to the Gaza conflict and accountability for those responsible for the atrocities.