July 20, Cape Town (UNI) According to the South African Foreign Ministry, the government of South Africa accepts the UN International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion about the legal ramifications of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
An advisory opinion about the legal ramifications of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories was released by the UN court on Friday. According to the ICJ, Israeli settlement development is an annexation and a violation of international law. The court ordered Israel to stop establishing new settlements, end its illegitimate presence on Palestinian territory, and make amends for the harm the occupation has caused.
“The Government of South Africa welcomes the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice issued today in The Hague in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Friday.
Ronald Lamola, the foreign minister of South Africa, said that the international community should act to put an end to Israel’s unlawful actions against the Palestinian people, citing the ICJ ruling as a reflection of South Africa’s long-standing position on the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. South Africa filed a complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 29, 2023, alleging genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling on January 26th, mandating Israel to take immediate action to avert crimes of genocide and guarantee the supply of humanitarian supplies to the enclave. However, the ICJ declined to mandate an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Early in March, the African country returned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to request more interim sanctions against Israel aimed at alleviating the chronic suffering of Palestinians living under blockade in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa requested that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) take prompt action to impose more sanctions on Israel on May 10. The court heard arguments on the subject on May 16–17. On May 24, the court gave Israel instructions to halt its military operation in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, and to take steps to guarantee that teams arriving to look into the allegations of genocide may reach the area.