South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has called for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
She underlined that warrants for Netanyahu and his ministers’ arrest should be issued by the International Criminal Court. She emphasized how urgent it is that the International Court move quickly to begin looking into Netanyahu’s war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include the extermination of the Palestinian people.
Earlier, the South African government has recalled all diplomats from Israel to “signal” its concern over the situation in Gaza.
SOUTH AFRICA TO ICC: ARREST NETANYAHU NOW!
Benjamin Netanyahu should be brought before The Hague. That’s according to South Africa’s foreign minster, who called Israel’s actions in Gaza a violation of international law. Naledi Pandor also called for an immediate ceasefire.… pic.twitter.com/eK9dCcRpTv
— African Stream (@african_stream) November 14, 2023
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister in the president’s office, has said that all diplomatic staff in Tel Aviv would be called to return to Pretoria for consultations, without providing further details.
“We are … extremely concerned at the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territories and we believe the nature of response by Israel has become one of collective punishment,” Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told a later press conference.
“We felt it important that we do signal the concern of South Africa while continuing to call for a comprehensive cessation [of hostilities].”
