On Friday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his country was committed to taking forward its genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice. He said that further evidence would be presented next month.
South Africa, in December, filed the case charging that Israel’s military response to the deadly attack by Hamas on October 7 violated the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israel has denied this completely.
Ramaphosa told reporters, “We are resolute, and firm in our commitment to being prepared to proceed with our case.” Next month, South Africa is due to submit a statement of facts and evidence to the UN court to support its case.
“The preparations have started, which will then constitute a massive volume of hundreds and hundreds of pages,” the president added.
He further reiterated that genocide needs to be stopped, a ceasefire implemented, and hostages returned.
Some of the countries which have joined South Africa in filing the suit include Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain, and Turkey.
