By Johnathan Paoli
The African National Congress has welcomed the International Criminal Court’s issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as a significant step forward in the global pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that the warrants reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to holding perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international law accountable.
Bhengu-Motsiri said that the party regarded the decision as both a legal and moral victory in light of the grim reminder of how Netanyahu’s actions reflected the cruelty endured by the people of South Africa under apartheid.
“The dehumanisation of Palestinians today mirrors the oppression faced by South Africans during that dark chapter of our history,” she said.
The ANC has called on all nations, institutions and individuals of conscience to stand steadfast in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Bhengu-Motsiri stressed the need for an immediate enforcement of the warrants and called for the continued isolation of Israel until it ceased its violations of international law and recognised Palestinian sovereignty and the right to self-determination.
“The ICC’s ruling sends a powerful and unequivocal message: those who commit crimes against humanity will be held accountable,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
She said her party firmly believed that the liberation of the Palestinian people was both possible and necessary, and that achieving this would require sustained and united global resistance against injustice and exploitation.
“As we declared during our own fight against apartheid: justice delayed is justice denied, and no further bloodshed must go unchallenged,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
She reaffirmed the ANC’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and said in line with the country’s drive of transformation, South Africa should remain steadfast in its commitment to building a world where all people, regardless of race, religion or geography, could live in peace, equality and harmony.
The death toll in Gaza passed 44,000 on Thursday. But many more are believed to be dead as medics cannot reach bodies under the rubble.
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