In South Africa, the country celebrated as a triumph the judgment rendered this Friday by the International Court of Justice in the case between it and Israel. Members of the ruling party, the ANC, gathered in Johannesburg to follow live the verdict of the body, which ordered Israel to prevent any possible act of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
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With our correspondent in Pretoria, Roman Song
This is the word that came back to everyone’s lips: the feeling of ” victory “. After having referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last December, considering that Israel committed genocide Gazaexecutives of the ANC – the ruling party – and members of the South African government gathered this Friday, January 26 to follow the judgment live on giant screens.
Although the Court did not directly rule on the accusation of genocide, it ruled in favor of South Africa on several points and shared his concern by urging the Jewish State in particular to prevent any possible genocidal act and to allow access for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
A “ verdict that exceeds our wildest expectations »
At the end of the hearing, everyone started singing. Applause, more and more intense as the President of the Court rendered a judgment in line with the requests of the‘South Africathen the party.
This ICJ decision looks like a victory for Naeem Patel, member of the South African Friends of Palestine Association. “ We are very happy, we are even delighted! We could see this in the reaction of the President or the charge d’affaires for Palestine. Palestine solidarity movements like ours are extremely satisfied by the verdict “, he assured.
The judgment rendered by the International Court of Justice does not mention the ceasefire demanded by South Africa. “ I’m not disappointed though » confided Naledi Pandor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, present in The Hague during the verdict. She believes that the measures ordered by the Court to Israel, in fact, impose a ceasefire. Because the ICJ nevertheless asks Israel to prevent the massacres. Fébé Potgieter, ANC executive, is therefore more than satisfied. “ It’s a verdict that exceeds our wildest expectations. It’s a decision that encourages peace advocates who have protested in the streets of the United States, South Africa and everywhere else », she considers.
Address to the nation by President Cyril Ramaphosa
At the end of the judgment, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hugged the representative of Palestine in South Africa, as well as his Minister of Justice. He then went on television and addressed the nation to welcome a “ victory for international law, human rights and above all, for justice “.
Cyril Ramaphosa also took the opportunity to reaffirm South Africa’s support for the Palestinian cause and the fate of Gazans. “ We expect Israel, which claims to be a democracy respectful ofErule of law, that it complies with the measures pronounced by the International Court of Justice. We are convinced that following this judgment, we should concentrate our efforts on obtaining a ceasefire and that we should engage in negotiations to get a two-way solution Estates », added the president.
With this affair, South Africa is also satisfied with having tested international institutions. Pretoria regularly denounces their inaction and the “ Two weights, two measures » of international justice, which would not defend all citizens in the same way. With this judgment, described as monumental, South Africa changes its tone and thanks the Court for deliberating quickly.
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