South Africa’s top diplomat has condemned military support for West Jerusalem following the World Court’s genocide ruling
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, has called on all nations to stop providing any form of aid or assistance to Israel, following the World Court’s ruling that Israel committed genocide against the Palestinian people.
Pandor, who is also the chairperson of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc, said that the international community must act decisively and urgently to end Israel’s impunity and hold it accountable for its crimes.
Pandor also expressed her dismay at the continued military support for Israel from some of its allies, especially the United States, which she said was “complicit in the genocide”.
She urged the US to reconsider its position and join the rest of the world in condemning and isolating Israel.
Pandor’s statement came after the World Court, also known as the International Court of Justice, issued a landmark verdict on Wednesday, finding Israel guilty of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for its decades-long occupation and oppression of the Palestinian territories.
The court ordered Israel to immediately cease its illegal settlement activities, lift its blockade on Gaza, end its use of excessive force and collective punishment, and pay reparations to the victims and their families.
The court also called on the UN Security Council to take all necessary measures to ensure Israel’s compliance with the ruling, and to impose sanctions and other punitive actions if it fails to do so.
The ruling was hailed as a historic victory for the Palestinian cause and a major blow to Israel’s legitimacy and credibility.
