President Ramaphosa made the statement in parliament in Cape Town on Tuesday, underscoring South Africa’s determination to pursue the case in 2023 despite a US-backed agreement aimed at ending Israel’s war in the besieged territory.
“We welcome the peace agreement that has been signed, but it will have no impact on the case pending at the International Court of Justice,” Ramaphosa told parliament, according to Al Jazeera.
“The case is ongoing and Israel has to move on to the stage where it has to respond to our claims submitted to the court. It has to do so by January next year,” he added.
South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel in December 2023, accusing it of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa will submit a detailed 500-page submission in October 2024, and Israel’s rebuttal is due by January 12, 2026. Oral hearings are scheduled for 2027, with a final verdict expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
The ICJ issued three interim measures ordering Israel to stop acts of genocide and allow humanitarian aid to Gaza, but Israel has largely failed to respond.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Authority.
Mr Ramaphosa stressed that true healing requires a proper hearing of cases.
MNA/