South Africa wants UN Security Council to determine measures to protect Palestinians

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG(AA) - South Africa on Friday said that it is looking at how the UN Security Council will respond to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza Strip where it sent forces on May 6.

“We are pleased that the court has given very serious consideration to the matters that we put before it and has affirmed that an urgent decision is needed from the court to pause this onslaught against innocent Palestinians,” Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told State Broadcaster SABC Friday.

Pandor said Israel has had “impunity for so long” that they do not care what the global community says.

“I think responsibility goes to us as member states of UN and most particularly to the UN Security Council because it’s the one that has responsibility for global Peace and Security so now they must determine measures to protect the people of Palestine,” she said.

She said the UN top court’s ruling is a “very clear call” for a cessation of the onslaught on Rafah.

“We are all fearful. We are all seeing the horror unfold and something needs to be done and we can not only rely on those who are the executioners of this ongoing onslaught to be the ones to stop it,” the minister said.

Pandor said there has been a global awakening on the situation in Palestine and rich countries of the north are now beginning to speak up against Israel’s atrocities and recognizing Palestine.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry Director-General Zane Dangor said: “This order is groundbreaking as it is the first time that explicit mention is made for Israel to halt its military action in any area of Rafah. South Africa welcomes the ruling made by the court today.”

Dangor said they also welcome the court's order compelling Israel to grant access to investigators appointed by the UN into Gaza to investigate actions that could be tantamount to genocide.

“This is important because it allows for independent researchers to go into areas that journalists have been prohibited from ... allows us engaged in the legal action to have independent verified UN experts doing a lot of the investigations,’’ he said, adding they hope the UN Security Council will take note of it.

Dangor said South Africa will be approaching the Security Council to get this provision implemented.

“We need to point out that this order like the others obligated they are binding and Israel has to adhere to them," he said.