A ceasefire has come into force between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, to finally bring the brutal fighting to an end and alleviate the suffering of 2.1 million Palestinians in the enclave.
The war in Gaza, which claimed the lives of more than 46,000 Palestinians and injured over 111,000 others, sparked international anger as it caused dire humanitarian crisis in the Strip and brought the region to the brink of an all-out war.
South Africa has been one of the most outspoken countries in criticizing Israel’s conduct of war and defending the rights of the Palestinian people. In the light of this, the country filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Representing her government, Grace Naledi Pandor has shown firm support for Palestinians and their rights.
Who is Grace Naledi Pandor?
Grace Naledi Pandor is South Africa’s former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. She served as a member of Parliament (MP) for the African National Congress (ANC) from 1994 to 2024, and as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2019 to 2024.
Naledi Pandor has been vocal in supporting the Palestinian people and advocating their rights, in line with her government’s stance. In March 2024, she said that South African citizens who fight for the Israeli armed forces in Gaza will be arrested upon their return.
She also encouraged people to protest outside the embassies of the “five primary supporters” of Israel and its military operations in Gaza, in what seemed a reference to the US, the UK, Germany and others, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza
In October 2023, the South African Minister reiterated her government’s position, saying that South Africa “remains steadfast in calling for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and the full – as well as complete – opening of all military corridors to ensure much-needed aid and basic services reach those in need.”
She also criticized Israel’s military actions against the people of Palestine, according to Africa News. “The collective punishment that Israel is exacting on all Palestinian people is an affront that has gone on for too long,” she noted.
Rejecting False Claims
On November 7, 2023, Minister Naledi Pandor spoke at the National Assembly on the Palestine-Israel conflict. In response to a question on the Israeli claims that Hamas beheaded children, Pandor noted that the South African government “speaks to Palestinians and peace-loving Israelis as well.”
She said: “We know there’s a lot of fake news that attempts to cast Palestinians in a bad light, and it has been admitted, even from the White House spokesperson, that the statement that was made at the highest level was actually proven not to be factual.”
Advocating for Palestinian Rights
During her statement, the South African Minister added that “when we speak on these matters, let us speak being honest and factual.”
She pointed to the fact that Palestinians are denied their basic human rights. “The facts are the people of Palestine are denied the right to exist as human beings. They are denied the right to enjoy the freedoms and the rights we so love as South Africans; the rights and freedoms we fought so hard for; the rights and freedoms we united on as a diverse South African people,” she said.
South Africa’s Support for Humanity
Naledi Ponder reaffirmed her government’s unwavering support for human rights. “Today, some of us in this House believe these rights belong to some and not to others. This is not the South African way. We believe all human beings enjoy the right to exist in freedom, enjoying justice and humanity,” she said, stressing that “our role must be to seek to build a better world.”
She concluded her statement by saying “In any debate we have, if we are true to ourselves, if we are true to our history, if we are true to what we had achieved, we will stand up and say what is being done to the people of Palestine is wrong, is intolerable, and we will not pretend to accept it.”
ICJ Genocide Case
In a bold move, South Africa filed a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, accusing it of genocide and demanding a halt to its military offensive in Gaza.
In January 2024, the ICJ instructed Israel to do everything possible to prevent a genocide in Gaza. Then, in May 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its military assault on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
The ICJ also issued an advisory opinion in July 2024, concluding that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and it has an obligation to end its unlawful presence as rapidly as possible. The Court also concluded that Israel is under obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities and evacuate all settlers from the occupied territories.
While the ICJ’s rulings are not obligatory, as it has no means to enforce them, they have put more pressure on Israel and further increased its international isolation over its brutal military actions in Gaza.
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