Lerato Mbhiza
International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor has questioned the perceived delay by the International Criminal Court in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pandor told the media on Wednesday that she met with the ICC prosecutor at The Hague last week when she was in the Netherlands for the ruling on South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Before approaching the ICJ, South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti wrote to the ICC, asking it to investigate Israel for war crimes amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Amid international concern over the growing death toll, families of some of the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in their October 7 attacks had also sought ICC action.
South Africa made a referral to the body in November over its belief that war crimes were being committed in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In contrast to the ICJ, the ICC prosecutes individuals suspected of crimes against humanity.
Pandor said she visited the ICC during her visit to The Hague last week, where she was attending the ICJ judgment in respect of provisional measures to protect Palestinians lives.
However, Israel has never ratified the Rome Statute and has indicated that it does not want to be a party to the statute and would subsequently not be legally obligated to its measures.
She said that while South Africa does not want to interfere in the processes of independent organs, the government is concerned about the slow pace of action in this matter.
Pandor said that the prosecutor explained what work was being done with regard to investigating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“What I found, he did not answer me sufficiently on what I asked him, why he was able to issue an arrest warrant for Mr Putin, and is unable to do so for the prime minister of Israel. He couldn’t answer and did not answer that question.”
Pandor said the government had asked to be kept abreast of developments at the ICC and would continue to question progress on the matter.
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