Watan-The Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Naledi Pandor, announced that her country’s citizens who fight in the ranks of the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza will be arrested upon their return home.
This statement came during a Palestinian solidarity event attended by officials from the ruling African National Congress party in South Africa, according to the American agency “AP”.
Pandor said, “When you return home, we will arrest you,” referring to soldiers from her country fighting in the ranks of the occupation army.
Pandor also encouraged people to protest outside embassies of what she called the “five key supporters” of Israel and its military actions in Gaza.
It is worth noting that South Africa had urgently submitted a request to the International Court of Justice to determine additional precautionary measures and amend the court order issued on January 26, 2024, and its subsequent decision on February 16 of the same year, in the case brought against Israel concerning the implementation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza.
South Africa mentioned in its new request that it is forced to return to the court in light of new facts and changes in the situation on the ground in Gaza, especially the widespread famine.
This is the third request filed by South Africa against Israel to the court, which is the highest judicial body in the United Nations, since the beginning of Tel Aviv’s devastating war on Gaza in October of last year.
A serious situation requiring immediate implementation
In mid-February, the International Court of Justice announced that what it termed as the serious situation in Gaza requires the immediate implementation of the measures in the order issued on January 26, in reference to Israel’s threats to invade the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
The court stated that developments, particularly in Rafah, could “greatly exacerbate what is considered a nightmare,” affirming that “Israel remains obligated to comply with the Genocide Convention, including ensuring the security of Palestinians in Gaza.”