Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has rebutted Israel’s presentation to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, as it responded to Pretoria’s presentation which was made on Thursday.
Lamola dismissed Israels assertions that its action was to defend itself, arguing that no actions justify genocide. Lamola was addressing the media outside the court at The Hague.
“South Africa’s case before this court is a simple one, under the genocide convention, nothing justifies genocidal acts currently being committed by Israel.
Self-defence is nor answer to genocide, nothing can ever justify genocide, there is no balancing exercise as Israel has sought to suggest, the prohibition is absolute.
No matter what some individuals within the group of Palestine in Gaza may have done and no matter how great the threat to Israel citizens might be, genocidal attacks on the whole of Gaza and the whole of its population with the intent of destroying them cannot be justified at all,” said Lamola.
He dismissed Israel’s comments that the soldiers were not following or acting based on some of the comments made by its leaders, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This is based on South Africa’s legal team’s presentation, that Israel Defence Force members were acting with impunity, as they received orders from politicians.
Israel said the comments were simple and rhetorical statements by senior officials, and that they have been retracted and those who made them dealt with.
Lamola is however adamant that the soldier’s actions were influenced by what the leaders said.
“Israel tells the court that these statements are simple rhetorical, and we should not ascribe them any importance.
There is no debate about the Prime Minister’s term Amalek means, and how it is understood by soldiers on the ground.
How can you (soldiers) ignore the comments of the Prime Minister and Defence Minister, and ground forces repeating what the leaders said,” argued Lamola.
He again said he’s confident that Pretoria has presented a strong case, and that they managed to establish the jurisdictions of the court in terms of the convention.
Meanwhile, the Director General for the Department of International Cooperation Zane Dangor, has dismissed Israel’s claims that access to humanitarian aid is improving, intensity of the attacks has been reduced, adding that all of this occurred in the last few days in the run up to the court hearing.
Dangor stressed that Pretoria will not be bullied to classify Hamas as a terrorist group.
“South Africa, like many other countries in the south, has not declared Hamas a terrorist organisation, and that does not mean we condone what Hamas has done.
The fact that other jurisdictions have declared them a terrorist organisation, does not mean we should do the same.
You see Hamas is active in places like Qatar and Turkey formerly, in South Africa they’re not active there, they don’t have any bases there, which is being claimed by the Israeli team.
We engage with all Palestinian stakeholders,” highlighted Dangor.
Despite criticism that Pretoria’s court challenge is not endorsed by countries in the middle east, Dangor said this is not the truth.
“The Organisation of Islamic States have all endorsed what South Africa has done in terms of bringing the case to the ICJ.
The Arab League two days ago also endorsed what we have done. We know that Jordan is thinking of supporting more than just providing a statement of support,” said Dangor.
He also said they have received support from 14 other countries that include Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, and Brazil among others. The court said it will make its judgment soon.
