In an interview with Palestine TV, he said South Africa wants to prove that Israel’s actions amount to genocide against the Palestinians, and “we will continue to provide evidence to prove it.”
«Israel continues to kill Palestinians despite international resolutions calling for an end to its crimes, as a result of the support it receives from the United States of America and some European governments that turn a blind eye to the crimes committed by Israel without taking any action», he added.
He stressed the need for an arrest warrant to be issued by the International Criminal Court against the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to hold him accountable for his crimes, calling for a serious international position to stop the Israeli aggression on the Strip.
He said: «The US administration offers various forms of support to the Israeli government, and instead of seeking a resolution to the Palestinian issue, it further enables and protects the Israeli Prime Minister.» He emphasized the need for the United Nations to become an effective body, pointing out that the American veto concerning Palestine undermines its effectiveness.
He stressed the necessity of adopting a system that enforces UN Security Council resolutions based on majority rule, without allowing any single country to use the veto.
He also stressed the significance of other countries joining South Africa’s case to the International Court of Justice, and noted that South Africa has made numerous appeals to some countries to take serious and united stances to stop the genocide against the Palestinians and ensure that the issue is active in international courts.
He stated that South Africa has faced pressure from several countries to force it to withdraw its genocide case against Israel, however, it remains committed to this step, considering support for the Palestinian cause a principle that cannot be compromised.
He noted that the activities of his country’s embassies have been doubled in all their locations to mobilize international organizations against the Israeli campaign rejecting South Africa’s actions and explained that one form of pressure that South Africa has been facing was the manipulation of the electoral process and the use of economic means to compel it to withdraw its case. He affirmed that the African National Congress will confront and overcome all these pressures.
He also pointed out that the public opinion in South Africa welcomes the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister, and asserted that Netanyahu is implicated in the killing of women and children and deserves to be held accountable for his crimes.
Regarding Palestinian detainees in the occupation’s prisons, he affirmed that the torture and killing they endure is unacceptable. He stressed the need to form a committee to investigate the conditions faced by detainees and insisted that any negotiations for a ceasefire must include the issue of their release from occupation prisons, the issue of colonial activities and the return of land to its Palestinian owners.
On the Israeli government’s actions against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa), he remarked that South Africa has condemned Israel’s campaign against the agency and emphasized the need to adhere to international law. He underscored the importance of halting Israeli practices against such organizations and ensuring accountability for those who target them in international courts.
He affirmed that religious sites in Jerusalem are threatened due to Netanyahu’s racist policies, emphasizing that he should not be allowed to implement his agenda in the holy city. Ultimately, he concluded, the Palestinian cause will prevail with the Palestinian people achieving their freedom and independence while holding Israel accountable.
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