Iran supports South Africa's decision to use international mechanisms and file a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prosecute Israeli officials for their actions in the Gaza Strip, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday.
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case with the ICJ seeking provisional measures against Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza, calling them a violation of the Genocide Convention. Israel responded that Pretoria's claims had no factual basis and were an "exploitation" of the court, adding that the country was allegedly collaborating with "terrorists". The ICJ is expected to hear the case on January 11 and 12.
"We support the use of international mechanisms to legally prosecute the officials ... of the Israeli regime by law as well as the implementation of internationally recognized legal norms against ... the Israeli regime," Kanaani told reporters, while paying special attention to mechanisms of the ICJ.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 23,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.