South Africa’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, criticized Israel on Tuesday, accusing it of setting a dangerous precedent for world leaders to disregard rulings from the top United Nations court.
Pandor’s comments came during a visit to Washington, where she addressed Israel’s conduct in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
South Africa has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over allegations of genocide stemming from the Gaza war, which began on October 7.
Pandor pointed out that Israel had defied an interim ruling by the ICJ in January, which called for action to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
During her remarks at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Pandor highlighted what she described as a campaign of starvation in Gaza, asserting that Israel’s actions were leading to mass hunger and famine.
She emphasized the importance of upholding international institutions like the ICJ and expressed concern that Israel’s defiance could embolden other nations to flout international law.
Pandor stressed that South Africa’s engagement with the ICJ was in line with principles advocated by the West and urged for consistency in respecting international judicial bodies.
She criticized the lack of respect shown towards the ICJ’s rulings and emphasized the need for accountability regardless of a nation’s geographical location.
In response to South Africa’s petition to the ICJ, Israel denounced the allegations as baseless and condemned the characterization of its actions as genocidal.
Despite humanitarian efforts, including temporary ceasefires, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has drawn condemnation from various quarters.
The Biden administration has labeled South Africa’s genocide case against Israel as “meritless,” leading to tensions between the two countries.
While the administration hopes to maintain cooperation with South Africa, some members of Congress are pushing for a reassessment of the bilateral relationship.
Republican Representative John James introduced legislation to review ties with South Africa, citing concerns about its alliances with countries deemed hostile to American interests.
Pandor criticized the move, urging for dialogue and understanding between democratic nations even amid disagreements.
