By Johnathan Paoli
The South African government has strongly condemned the killing of 143 Palestinians by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) this week, as Palestinians marked the 77th anniversary of Nakba Day, a day of mourning for the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948.
In a statement released by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa described the killings as a massacre and condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The complete blockade of aid into Gaza and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, are in direct contravention of international humanitarian norms. These actions reflect a systematic strategy to displace Palestinians by rendering the Gaza Strip uninhabitable,” the statement read.
The government decried the destruction of hospitals and clinics, and the denial of essential aid, stating that Israel’s actions amounted to grave violations of international law.
The outcry comes amid global shock following reports that 45 children were killed in Israeli airstrikes over a mere two-day period.
Unicef executive director Catherine Russel called the world’s muted response to the killings “deeply troubling” and noted that over one million children in Gaza were now at risk of starvation due to the ongoing siege.
In recent submissions to the International Court of Justice, South Africa warned that Gaza had effectively become “a killing field,” and cautioned against the worsening man-made famine.
South African representatives argued that Israel’s deliberate blockade of humanitarian aid, combined with its military actions, constituted a violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
South Africa has reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and for renewed diplomatic efforts to bring about a lasting political solution to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The department urged the international community to act decisively to hold Israel accountable for its actions, particularly its ongoing policies of collective punishment, administrative detention, and the torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees, including children.
It stressed that this violated the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention Against Torture.
“It is imperative that all Palestinian detainees held without due process be released. Victims, especially children, must be provided with compensation and rehabilitation in line with international law and standards of justice,” the department said.
South Africa emphasised that the credibility of the international order depended on the consistent and impartial application of international law.
“Selective outrage and double standards in the enforcement of international norms erode the foundations of justice and peace globally,” the statement maintained.
The department called on the United Nations and the wider international community to take urgent and effective measures to end the occupation and ensure accountability for violations committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
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