South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor announced plans to petition the International Court of Justice (ICJ) , seeking to classify Israel as an apartheid state.
According to News24, Minister Pandor stated, “South Africa and Palestine are currently drafting procedures to elevate the Palestinian issue to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, to declare Israel an apartheid state.”
Earlier, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had urged the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel’s actions in Palestine as potential war crimes.
In a recent development, the South African parliament voted on a non-binding resolution to close the Israeli embassy in the country and sever diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv until Israel agrees to a ceasefire and negotiations.
As the conflict in Gaza entered its 49th day, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the territory exceeded 14,854, including over 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women.
On the Israeli side, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 individuals, with over 5,000 injured, including the death of 392 Israeli military personnel.
South Africa has historically shown solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The African National Congress (ANC), the country’s ruling party, has often drawn parallels between the Palestinian struggle and South Africa’s past struggles against racial segregation.
The move is also part of a broader international concern about human rights issues in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
South Africa’s position reflects growing international scrutiny over Israel’s policies towards Palestinians, particularly regarding issues of territorial occupation, settlement expansion, and treatment of Palestinians
