International relations and co-operation minister Ronald Lamola says the government will file its memorial regarding its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by the end of the month.
SA first brought its case against Israel in December 2023, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The ICJ ordered Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide in its war against armed Palestinian group, Hamas. The court did not, however, call for a ceasefire.
A memorial is a docket of evidence.
Lamola said on Monday that the filing of the memorial was a continuation of the case wherein SA aimed to provide evidence to the court that Israel was violating its obligations under the 1948 genocide convention in its war in Gaza.
“There is an interim relief now (we are) at the stage where we will be arguing merits so we will be continuing to file and to ensure that justice does prevail.”
Lamola was speaking at a press briefing after his meeting in Pretoria with deputy secretary-general of the UN Amina Mohammed, who is on a working visit to SA and other southern African countries this week.
Mohammed says the UN supports calls for the cessation of hostilities in the region and a return to the negotiating table where a peace process can be discussed.
This came as Monday marked a year since the start of Israel’s military operation in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas attacking Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
In his weekly newsletter published on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged Israel to immediately implement the ICJ’s provisional orders issued on January 26, March 28 and May 24 2024.
“The reality is that this latest escalation is part of a pattern of violence that spans more than half a century, resulting from the occupation of Palestine. Until the occupation is ended and a just and lasting solution is found that will protect the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, the region will remain a tinderbox of potential conflict and war,” Ramaphosa said.
“Just as the countries of the world need to work together to ensure that this conflict is not allowed to spread, the international community must be seized with efforts to end the violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
“As we did in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, we once again call on South Africans to continue to advocate for justice and peace. At the same we must continue to oppose all forms of racism, intolerance and prejudice, whether it is anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or xenophobia.
“As a country we will continue to play our part in supporting all efforts to bring peace to the troubled Middle East region and to secure a just, lasting solution that ends the occupation of Palestine.”
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