JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa lauded the World Court’s ruling on Friday, which imposed emergency measures against Israel over the war in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) called upon Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent genocide and improve humanitarian conditions amid its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the ICJ notably refrained from demanding a ceasefire, and has yet to rule on the central issue raised by South Africa regarding the occurrence of genocide in Gaza, a process that may extend over several years.
While addressing the nation, Ramaphosa expressed that the ICJ’s ruling is a significant step towards justice, and emphasized his expectation for Israel to adhere to it.
During his televised speech, Ramaphosa referred to the brutality and injustices Black South Africans endured under the apartheid system.
“We are also a people who were the victims of the crime of apartheid. We know what apartheid looks like. We experienced and lived through it. Sadly, many of people died and were exiled like our beloved leader Oliver Tambo and others, others were jailed like the father of our democracy and others were maimed,” said Ramaphosa.
“We, as South Africans, will not be passive bystanders and watch the crimes that were visited upon us being perpetrated elsewhere. We stand on the side of freedom for all. We stand on the side of justice,” he added.
More on a ceasefire and South Africa’s efforts to halt genocide in Gaza.
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