S Africa intensifies legal case against Israel, demands global action on Gaza

The South African government on Wednesday renewed its commitment to the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), urging the international community to uphold international law and take collective action to end atrocities in Gaza.

Addressing a joint sitting of the National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation as well as the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development in Cape Town, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said the conflict in Gaza is not only about Palestine but also about the integrity of the global system of governance.

South Africa has repeatedly submitted thousands of pages of evidence to the court, urging interim measures that demand Israel immediately cease military operations and ensure humanitarian assistance.

Experts analyze that while a final ruling in this lawsuit may take years, it has already generated broad international impact. On one hand, South Africa emphasizes that this is a defense of the fairness of international law; on the other hand, this move has also sparked strong dissatisfaction from the United States and other Western countries, further straining the already tense relations between South Africa and the U.S.

South Africa filed its case against Israel on Dec. 29, 2023, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention. The minister said his country has acted "in accordance with our constitutional values and international law obligations," stressing that preventing genocide is "a shared duty" requiring global solidarity.

"I mean, as far as Israel is concerned, it is a law unto itself. It can bomb other sovereign countries, it can bomb a country that is mediating a conflict while bombing the people who are negotiating on the other side and and can get away with it because again, international law doesn't apply to those people. This case has already begun the process of of strengthening calls for balanced, fairer, a more just global order.International law, treaties, etcetera apply equally to allm" said Na'eem Jeenah, executive director of Afro-Middle East Center, University of the Witwatersrand.

Oil prices fell on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery dropped 2.83 U.S. dollars, or 4.56 percent, to settle at 59.19 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery lost 2.76 dollars, or 4.15 percent, to settle at 63.76 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.