South Africa won't withdraw genocide case against Israel after Trump threatens to cut off aid
South Africa says it will not withdraw its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) despite US President Donald Trump’s order to freeze Washington’s aid to the country.
Trump signed an executive order Friday aimed at freezing "foreign aid or assistance” to South Africa in retaliation for the ICJ case and a new land expropriation law it claims is designed to seize property from the country’s Afrikaner minority.
The US president claimed that Pretoria had taken an aggressive stance against the United States and its allies through its position on Israel.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Wednesday that there is “no chance” of Pretoria withdrawing the case it filed against the Israeli regime in December 2023.
“Standing by our principles sometimes has consequences, but we remain firm that this is important for the world, and the rule of law.”
South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in an unprecedented case at the United Nations’ top court in December 2023. It said Tel Aviv was “intent on destroying the Palestinians in Gaza” and called for the court to order a halt to Israel’s genocidal campaign in the Strip.
While a final ruling is pending, the court ruled last year that “there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and the continuing serious harm to civilians since then.”
Many countries have followed suit and supported South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, whose 15 months of brutal campaign of death and destruction claimed the lives of more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza and left the besieged coastal enclave in ruins.
The war came to a halt after Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement on January 19. Still, Trump threatened on Monday that he will call for cancellation of the ceasefire and “let all hell break out,” if Hamas does not release all of the captives by noon on February 15.
Israel killed at least 360,000 Palestinians in Gaza: Renowned American attorney
Israel kills Palestinian youth in West Bank raids, expands settlements amid escalation
MSF: Collapse of West Bank healthcare imminent
Iran’s oil output up nearly 13% in 2024: OPEC data
Fate of Israeli captives depends on Netanyahu's actions: Islamic Jihad
VIDEO | Hamas ceasefire on brink of collapse
VIDEO | Future scenarios for Gaza
CPJ: Israel responsible for 2024 being deadliest year in history for journalists
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Senior Arab officials warn Trump's Gaza scheme could inflame West Asia
Israel says will stay in Lebanon beyond extended withdrawal deadline
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
