South Africa has invoked the Genocide Convention against Israel over Gaza

[HeidiInTheBigCity]

The entire filing is 84 pages long and, frankly, took me several hours to read - it's well worth the effort, though, in that it is rather (painfully at times) clinical and devastating in equal measure: https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf

Go, South Africa!

It might not male that much of a difference in the short term - but: to see the former victims of Apartheid take the lead on the world stage, and offer support (the way they - after multiple decades of campaigning and pressure ... it's not as though world leaders hated Apartheid South Africa "by default") is just ... a little spark of light within the darkness!

Shocked but not surprised unfortunately.

Nope. I’m talking about what about other parts of that world comments.

The ANC also couldn't bring themselves to condemn the Hamas terrorist attack. Instead they said this:

"South Africa’s department of international relations, while decrying the escalation of violence, stated that the conflict had arisen from Israel’s “continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.”

Go research the yazidis and the Kurds. And Nigeria as some one added. Go see what happens when the inconvenient minority can’t defend themselves. I’m sure it would be easier for everyone if Israel just lay down and die. Especially for Iran, Russia and China who don’t want the west to have a friendly country in the Middle East. Or is that looking too much at strategy and whataboutary and not enough focus on making sure that only Palestinian suffering is the only issue that’s acknowledged or issue on the table?

Been to SA many times, last time about 8 months ago. Im married to a South African who grew up there in the apartheid years. It’s easy for others who don’t really know or understand the SA history or culture to criticise. As Dh says Nelson Mandela and the ANC were considered evil terrorists. The only solution in the end was reconciliation and a willingness to forgive and move forward, promoted by the “terrorist” Mandela. In other words accepting the past, and agreeing to learn from it, and negotiating with people you may have been taught to hate.

No SA isn’t perfect, they have corruption (same as UK) still some discrimination (same as UK), far too much violent crime - linked to high levels of poverty and unemployment. But Dh is very proud that his home Country is taking a brave stand against Israel.

I didn’t live in SA during the apartheid years but my experience there has not convinced me that apartheid has gone away and I would question why it is mostly black SA’s experiencing high levels of poverty and unemployment. It is still an extremely unequal society so the SA govt berating Israel is quite the hypocrite.
Madiba wanted to overthrow the apartheid regime (questionable as to whether he succeeded unfortunately) he did not want to wipe out an entire race of people and had no genocidal intent. Hamas want to wipe out an entire people-very different aims.

Nope it’s not the only one of course. None of them are right but seems l like many of you don’t care about the Palestinians lives. Not sure what you’re worried about. If Israel is not committed genocide then the request will be dismissed. Or are you worried that Israel will be held accountable for genocide

Are you proud to stand for a government / army who rapes women and children and tortures them ? I’d be seriously concerned to be proud of that

Well done to South Africa for being the driver on this.

@EasterIssland are you proud of Hamas/Palestine? Because they’re doing all of that with bells on. Yet for some reason you see them as innocent and Israel as guilty.

I care more about Palestinian lives than the Hamas leaders do that’s for sure.

Well done South Africa. As a country it's not perfect but at least they have the balls to call out apartheid, war crimes and oppression when they recognise it.

Except in their own country.

Well done South Africa. As a country it's not perfect but at least they have the balls to call out apartheid, war crimes and oppression when they recognise it.

Except if it's Hamas committing the war crime. Or Russia. Or China.

Exactly, completely agree

@ChalkWitch No they are not a perfect country and have some dodgy alliances but on this matter they happen to be right.

I’d call supporting Hamas a bit more than a dodgy alliance.

Because they agree with you? Because you only recognise one peoples suffering?

I wonder how the Jewish population in South Africa are taking the news? I know antisemitic hate crime has increased there since 7th October and the neonazis have become emboldened somewhat. Hope this doesn’t make things worse.

Exactly, completely agree

And let us not forget Zuma (previous ANC president) congratulating Assad on his 2014 "win" of the Syrian election.
Not so squeamish about Syrian deaths apparently.

Not unsurprising that long term oppression and segregation don't help countries and can lead to longer term systemic issues.

Even some decades after South Africa celebrated the end of apartheid, the country is still trying to put itself right.

Of course I don't agree with anyone's suffering or only recognise one people's suffering. Don't put words into my mouth, thanks.

No hate crime is good.

Even some decades after South Africa celebrated the end of apartheid, the country is still trying to put itself right

South Africa has unfortunately gone backwards in many ways since the end of apartheid, largely due to the absolutely, staggeringly vast scale of corruption which has diverted much of the available money away from where is is needed and into the pockets of select individuals. In consequence, essential services are in ruins. Power is intermittent and more and more municipalities are no longer supplying drinking water at a safe standard. Roads are crumbling.

If you're interested, google Zuma, the Guptas and state capture.

@SomeCatFromJapan yes I am aware of the systemic corruption, hence mentioning it. As I asserted in my post above, long term oppression and segregation don't help countries and can lead to longer term systemic issues.

No wonder South Africa is still trying to put itself right decades after apartheid ended.