By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – South Africa on Thursday said that the arrest warrants issued by International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is a "significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Palestine."
As the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza continues in its second year, the ICC on Thursday issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant as well as Mohammed Deif of Hamas.
“These actions mark a significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine,” said Chrispin Phiri, spokesman for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
The ICC said the arrest warrants were issued over crimes against humanity, war crimes, including murder, starvation as well as persecution committed by the Israeli leaders.
South Africa called on the global community to “uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for human rights violations,” said Phiri.
Notably, South Africa has also dragged Israel to International Court of Justice over genocide in Gaza, since Tel Aviv launched its aerial and ground bombardment of the Palestinian besieged coastal enclave last year on Oct. 07.
The warrants come as Israel’s genocidal offensive in Gaza recently entered its second year, having already killed some 44,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured over 103,000 others.
Tel Aviv has also expanded its war on Lebanon and has also periodically hit Iran and Syria.