South African president calls for end to genocide in Gaza in new year message
Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's president, speaks during the South Africa Investment Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Today's conference starts as data this week showed that the South African economy has probably entered a technical recession. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In his New Year message, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the release of hostages.
The South African leader denounced the ongoing violence in the region as genocide against the Palestinian people, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention.
“As genocide is perpetrated against the people of Gaza and Israeli hostages remain in captivity, we continue to call for the cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages,” Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.
He reiterated South Africa’s unwavering support for the Palestinian struggle, drawing parallels with his nation’s history of overcoming apartheid through global solidarity.
South Africa has been proactive in seeking accountability, filing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in late 2023.
The legal action, supported by countries such as Turkiye, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya, and Colombia, accuses Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. Public hearings on the case began in January.
The Israeli military’s sustained operations in Gaza since October 2023, following a Hamas-led attack, have resulted in over 45,500 deaths, predominantly women and children, according to reports. Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire, the bombings continue.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in the war on Gaza.
