South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, rebuked Israel’s spokesperson for alleging that her government represents the interests of Hamas, labelling such accusations as baseless, saying, “Insults are the last resort of a scoundrel.”
Pandor emphasised the urgent need for the international community to intervene and end the Israel-Gaza conflict, condemning its prolonged continuation as unconscionable.
Advocating for a “two-state solution,” Pandor urged global preparation for resolving the conflict through diplomatic means.
Tensions between Israel and South Africa escalated after South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza—a charge vehemently denied by Israel.
The ICJ issued a ruling urging Israel to take measures to avoid civilian casualties and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In response, South Africa urged the ICJ to assess Israel’s compliance with the court’s directives.
Pandor reaffirmed South Africa’s stance, asserting that the Israeli military’s actions constitute genocide against Palestinians.
The conflict escalated when Hamas-led gunmen conducted a surprise attack on Israeli territory on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostages. Israel vowed to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages.
According to reports, the conflict has led to the deaths of over 27,800 Palestinians and injuries to at least 67,000 others due to Israel’s continuous bombardment