South Africa 'determined' to pursue 'genocide' case against Israel

AFP / Wikus de Wet

South Africa is determined to pursue a "genocide" case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, noting that more evidence will be presented next month.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, said on Friday.

South Africa filed the case last December, alleging that Israel's offensive in Gaza in response to a deadly Hamas attack on October 7 violated the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israel has vehemently denied the accusation.

When asked about the case, Ramaphosa told reporters, "We are stubborn," stressing his determination "to move forward with our case."

South Africa will submit a statement of facts and evidence to the UN court next month to support its case.

The president added that preparations are underway to present it, "which is a huge volume of hundreds and hundreds of pages."

"We continue to say that the genocide must stop, there must be a ceasefire, and similarly, there must be a return of the hostages," he continued.

Several countries, including Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain, and Turkey, joined South Africa in the lawsuit.

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