South Africa’s top diplomat leveled accusations against Israel on Tuesday, alleging that the country is setting a dangerous precedent for leaders to defy the top UN court.
Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s foreign minister, reiterated claims of a “starvation” campaign in Gaza as she addressed the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
South Africa has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide in the wake of the October 7 attack, a move that has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from the United States.
During her visit to the US capital Washington, Pandor highlighted Israel’s disregard for a January ruling by the ICJ, which ordered the country to take action to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
She expressed concern over the dire humanitarian situation, stating, “We’re seeing mass starvation now and famine before our very eyes.”
Pandor emphasized the need for humanity to reflect on its actions and the example being set by Israel’s defiance of international institutions.
Pandor warned that Israel’s actions could embolden other nations to similarly flout international law, creating a dangerous precedent.
She defended South Africa’s decision to pursue justice through international channels, asserting that the country is simply following the principles advocated by the West.
Despite Israel’s denunciation of South Africa’s plea as “outrageous” and “morally repugnant,” Pandor reaffirmed her nation’s commitment to seeking measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
South Africa has once again petitioned the ICJ to intervene and order Israel to halt the “widespread starvation” resulting from its offensive in Gaza.
The dire situation in Gaza has been underscored by a UN-backed food security assessment, which found that approximately 1.1 million people, nearly half the population, are facing “catastrophic” hunger.
As tensions continue to escalate, the international community remains divided over how to address the crisis and hold those responsible for the suffering of civilians accountable.
