By Mark Ogagan
President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on the world to act to prevent further bloodshed in Gaza.
South Africa has been calling for the cessation of hostilities in the Israel-Hamas war.
Last week the International Court of Justice (ICJ) heard South Africa’s case accusing Israel of breaching the United Nations (UN) Genocide Convention in the Gaza war.
While addressing ANC supporters celebrating the party’s 112th anniversary at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga last Saturday, Ramaphosa added that South Africa would do everything possible to ensure that the people of Palestine and Israel live in peace.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the appalling slaughter and genocide of the people of Palestine that is being perpetrated in Gaza and the West Bank. The ANC had always stood side by side with the people of Palestine because like we before 1994 they stood with us and faced the brutal enemy as we did.
“Nelson Mandela declared that our own freedom is incomplete without the freedom of Palestinians. For this South Africa took the step to go and lodge a case at the ICJ to go and say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and West Bank. We urge the court to give a judgment that will stop that genocide,” says the ANC president.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu claims that Israel will not be deterred by the International Court of Justice from pursuing its Gaza war until it achieves total victory.
This comes after South Africa lodged a lawsuit alleging Israeli genocide against Palestine.
“No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil, no one,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.
Israel plans a “huge” addition to its defence budget as part of a build-up designed to cover its needs for years to come, Netanyahu said, adding that one goal was an independent military manufacturing sector.
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