Johnathan Paoli
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola is expected to lead South Africa’s delegation to the peace palace in The Hague on Thursday, where SA has lodged its dispute with Israel over its attacks on Gaza.
Lamola is expected to be joined by several senior government officials as the country applies to the court to consider whether Israel has been committing genocide in the Palestinian territory, where over 22, 000 people, mostly innocent civilians, have been killed.
The west has lashed out at the country’s decision, with the United States describing the case as meritless and baseless, and the United Kingdom saying the accusations of genocide could be seen as inflammatory.
Justice Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said that Lamola was determined to see the end of the genocide that is currently taking place in the region.
“We are encouraged by leaders of the world who have not blunted their consciousness and have stood on the right side of history by supporting a case that seeks to protect the rights of human beings – regardless of their nationality or ethnicity,” Phiri said.
The South African delegation will include director general in the presidency Phindile Baleni, international relations director general Zane Dangor and justice director general Doc Mashabane, with presidential advisor Nokukhanya Jele rounding out the group.
The delegation is expected to be joined by several political figures from other nation states, including former UK labour leader Jeremy Corbyn amongst others, to support SA’s case.
In addition, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for a drastic decrease in the scale and intensity of Israel’s attacks upon Palestinian citizens, despite maintaining Israel’s right to “defend itself”.
Blinken was speaking at a news conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday during a week-long trip aimed at calming tensions in the Middle East amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
The secretary of state stressed the importance of avoiding further civilian harm, and said that protecting civilian infrastructure in Gaza remained paramount.
Blinken said that the daily toll on civilians in the region, particularly children, was far too high and that more food, water and medicine was needed.
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