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 battle crimes dedicated by Israel in Gaza, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned.

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 reducing of all diplomatic ties with the nation till it agrees to a cease-fire.

Ramaphosa mentioned his nation believes Israel is committing battle 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 international locations the world over, referred this complete Israeli authorities motion to the Worldwide Prison Court docket,” Ramaphosa mentioned Wednesday throughout a state go to to Qatar.

“We’ve put by means of a referral as a result of we imagine that battle 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 might be at the moment underway and imagine that they warrant an investigation by the ICC,” he added.

Ramaphosa’s ruling African Nationwide Congress social gathering mentioned it could help the movement tabled by the leftist opposition social gathering Financial Freedom Fighters for the nation to close down the Israeli Embassy and minimize diplomatic ties with the nation.