South Africa strongly condemns the ongoing Israeli attacks on hospitals in Palestine, Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told a press conference in Pretoria, stressing that such actions violate the recent interim measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
"The attacks on hospital facilities totally go against the grain of the ICJ ruling. If you destroy a hospital, you are saying injured people must not get no help. That people who need medical treatment must not have it, so, essentially you’re sentencing people to a death by virtue of your activities," Minister Pandor said.
Earlier this week, Israeli special forces reportedly raided a hospital in the occupied West Bank, killing three suspected Palestinian resistance fighters.
Minister Pandor expressed her shock at the incursion into the hospital, highlighting the deceptive use of medical personnel's clothing to conceal malicious intentions.
"And the shocking thing on the hospital attack, was going in there dressed as though you’re medical personnel and yet you have murderous intent," she said.
In a landmark decision issued last Friday, the ICJ issued interim measures in response to South Africa's case against Israel for alleged genocide in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, where more than 26,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since last October, according to the enclave's authorities. The court ordered Israel to take immediate measures to prevent acts of genocide and to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to the region. However, the ICJ did not openly demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Responding to rumors of Iranian financial support for the South African legal team involved in the genocide case against Israel, Minister Pandor denied these claims during her press conference, refuting any evidence of such financial support.
Responding to criticism and vilification of South Africa's stance on Israel's actions in the besieged Palestinian enclave, Minister Pandor stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable should it fail to comply with the ICJ's directives and findings.
Previosly, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola reiterated South Africa's intention to take the matter to the UN General Assembly if UNSC action to enforce the ICJ ruling is blocked by the United States, a key supporter of Israel.
Earlier, in a separate development, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned of possible foreign interference in South Africa's upcoming general elections as a result of the case against Israel, underscoring its broader impact on the country's political landscape.