South Africa wants the United Nations Security Council to outline measures that it will take to enforce an International Court of Justice\u2019s interim ruling against Israel as it seeks to sustain international pressure to bring an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UN\u2019s top court on Friday said that Israel \u2013 accused by South Africa of genocide amid its crackdown on Hamas \u2013 must act to prevent Palestinians from being killed or injured, but stopped short of demanding an immediate cease-fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Algeria, which is a non-permanent member of the UNSC, has written to the council requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the court\u2019s ruling, and it is expected to be held on 31 January. Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, the UN\u2019s secretary general, said he would also be notifying the UNSC of the court\u2019s provisional order.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ruling must speak to the conscience of other nations and members of the Security Council,\u201d South Africa\u2019s Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola, said. \u201cThey must respond in compliance with the order.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a Security Council intervention is blocked by the US, which has been consistent in its support of Israel, South Africa will approach the UN General Assembly, which has previously voted in favour of a cease-fire, said Lamola, who led the country\u2019s delegation to the ICJ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a 21 December 2023 vote, 153 nations favoured a cease-fire, 10 opposed and 23 abstained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the war began on 7 October 2023, South African critics of Israel have drawn parallels between the killing of civilians in Gaza and the violence meted out by South Africa\u2019s apartheid regime, which was established in 1948 \u2013 the same year the state of Israel was founded.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1974, the UNGA voted to suspend South Africa from participating in its work due to international opposition to apartheid, Lamola referred to that vote, saying that there was precedence in how that organ could respond if approached. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ICJ ordered Israel to report back within a month on measures it had taken to comply with the ruling. South Africa will also be compiling its own observations, to present to the court, Lamola said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the ruling as an assertion of the international rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe key pillars of our foreign policy since the advent of our democracy include the pursuit of our national interest, the promotion of human rights, peace and stability, the strengthening of trade and investment ties with other countries around the world,\u201d he told a ruling party gathering on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSouth Africa\u2019s image in the world has been raised exponentially over the past few years and has emerged as the voice of the African agenda, South-South cooperation, North-South dialogue, global multilateral governance and economic institutions reform.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n