South Africa has officially lodged a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, announced South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This move coincides with a scheduled debate among South African lawmakers, who are considering a motion to close the Israeli Embassy in South Africa and sever all diplomatic relations with Israel until it agrees to a ceasefire.
Ramaphosa firmly stated that South Africa believes Israel is involved in war crimes and genocide in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives, and vital infrastructure, including hospitals, has been obliterated.
Ramaphosa declared during his state visit to Qatar, that Hamas’s earlier actions are not condoned, but South Africa equally condemn the ongoing actions, which warrant an investigation by the ICC.
He underscored that South Africa, alongside numerous other nations worldwide, has referred the entire Israeli government’s conduct to the International Criminal Court.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has pledged its support for the motion proposed by the leftist opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), to shutter the Israeli Embassy and sever diplomatic ties with Israel.