South Africa refers Israel to ICC over Gaza assaults as stress mounts to chop diplomatic ties

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has filed a referral to the Worldwide Prison Court docket for an investigation into alleged struggle crimes dedicated by Israel in Gaza, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated.

The transfer comes as South African lawmakers had been anticipated to debate a movement on Thursday calling for the closure of the Israeli Embassy in South Africa and the slicing of all diplomatic ties with the nation till it agrees to a cease-fire.

Ramaphosa stated his nation believes Israel is committing struggle crimes and genocide in Gaza, the place hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and hospitals and public infrastructure have been destroyed.

“As South Africa we’ve accordingly, along with many different nations internationally, referred this entire Israeli authorities motion to the Worldwide Prison Court docket,” Ramaphosa stated Wednesday throughout a state go to to Qatar.

“We now have put by means of a referral as a result of we consider that struggle crimes are being dedicated there. And naturally we don’t condone the actions that had been taken by Hamas earlier, however equally we condemn the actions which can be at the moment underway and consider that they warrant an investigation by the ICC,” he added.

Ramaphosa’s ruling African Nationwide Congress celebration stated it will assist the movement tabled by the leftist opposition celebration Financial Freedom Fighters for the nation to close down the Israeli Embassy and minimize diplomatic ties with the nation.