South Africa reacts to provisional ICJ ruling on Gaza, calls it a ‘victory for international rule of law’ {SEE STATEMENT}

….photos of how President Cyril Ramaphosa, others watched, celebrated victory

South Africa on Friday welcomed provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the genocide case against Israel in the Hague, calling it a “decisive victory” for the international rule of law.

“Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people,” South Africa’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said in a statement after the ICJ ordered Israel to take “all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and copy of which was obtained by The DEFENDER Nigeria, on Friday January 26, 2024.

The court also ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire.

Monyela expressed South Africa’s gratitude for what he called the court’s landmark decision determining that Israel’s actions in Gaza plausibly constitute genocidal.

“For the implementation of the international rule of law, the decision is a momentous one. South Africa thanks the Court for its swift ruling,” he said.

Monyela added that the UN Security Council would now be formally notified of the court’s order, stressing that the veto power wielded by permanent members of the council must not be permitted to thwart international justice, “not least in light of the ever-worsening situation in Gaza brought about by Israel’s acts and omissions in violation of the Genocide Convention.”

“South Africa sincerely hopes that Israel will not act to frustrate the application of this Order, as it has publicly threatened to do, but that it will instead act to comply with it fully, as it is bound to do.”

On Dec. 29, South Africa filed a lawsuit with the top UN court, requesting an injunction against Israel on the grounds that the country’s attacks on Gaza violate the Genocide Convention.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation in a statement on the International Court of Justice’s order.

Read derails of the South Africa’s press statement below:

26 January 2024.

PRESS RELEASE

Statement by South Africa welcoming the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice against Israel

Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people. In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are plausibly genocidal and has indicated provisional measures on that basis. For the implementation of the international rule of law, the decision is a momentous one. South Africa thanks the Court for its swift ruling.

The United Nations Security Council will now be formally notified of the Court’s order pursuant to Article 41(2) of the Court’s Statute. The veto power wielded by individual states can not be permitted to thwart international justice, not least in light of the ever-worsening situation in Gaza brought about by Israel’s acts and omissions in violation of the Genocide Convention.

Third States are now on notice of the existence of a serious risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. They must, therefore, also act independently and immediately to prevent genocide by Israel and to ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention, including by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide. This necessarily imposes an obligation on all States to cease funding and facilitating Israel’s military actions, which are plausibly genocidal.

Above all else, the provisional measures are directly binding on Israel, which is required pursuant to the Court’s order and to the Genocide Convention itself, to stop all acts by it that are plausibly genocidal, such as those raised by South Africa in its Application and request for the indication of provisional measures. There is no credible basis for Israel to continue to claim that its military actions are in full compliance with international law, including the Genocide Convention, having regard to the Court’s ruling.

South Africa sincerely hopes that Israel will not act to frustrate the application of this Order, as it has publicly threatened to do, but that it will instead act to comply with it fully, as it is bound to do.

South Africa will continue to act within the institutions of global governance to protect the rights, including the fundamental right to life, of Palestinians in Gaza – which continue to remain at urgent risk including from Israeli military assault, starvation and disease – and to obtain the fair and equal application of international law to all, in the interest of our collective humanity. Notably, South Africa will continue to do everything within its power to preserve the existence of the Palestinian people as a group, to end all acts of apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people and to walk with them towards the realisation of their collective right to self-determination, for, as Nelson Mandela momentously declared, “our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”.

The indication by this Court of provisional measures pursuant to the Genocide Convention marks a significant historical step towards that goal.

For more information: Clayson Monyela (Head of Public Diplomacy) +27828845974.

Issued by DIRCO.