Former South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has called on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold public hearings in its genocide case against Israel, pressing for stronger interim measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza and urging the U.S. Congress to adopt a human‑rights‑focused foreign‑policy stance. The case, lodged by South Africa in December 2023 during Pandor’s tenure as foreign minister from 2019 to 2024, has yet to produce a legal ruling on Israel’s alleged violations of the Genocide Convention.
Speaking to Anadolu, Pandor said:
We would like to have the case heard so that the world can adjudicate whether our contention that genocide is underway will be held up by legal scrutiny.She added that the ICJ has held hearings on provisional measures to protect Palestinians but has not yet ruled on the merits of the genocide claim. No definitive hearing date has been set, and the next round of written arguments is due from South Africa by 22 November 2027 and from Israel by 22 May 2029.
In her remarks at the sidelines of the TRT World Forum last week, Pandor urged the court to strengthen its interim orders, noting that such orders require Israel to prevent acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention and to ensure that urgently needed humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. “We would like to see stronger measures articulated by the ICJ in response to our recent submission,” she said. The South African government filed a dossier on 25 August alleging that Israel had failed to comply with the court’s three provisional measures orders, a move intended to aid judges in monitoring compliance and contemplating further action.
When asked about the threats and pressure she faced after South Africa brought the case, Pandor said she received additional security protection while serving in government. She continues to endure personal attacks in media outlets critical of her position on Israel. “Presently, the attacks consist of articles in Zionist media where I’m called all kinds of names – I’m at Hamas headquarters in South Africa, I’m a tool of Iran and so on,” she said, adding that insults, in her view, are “the last refuge of a scoundrel.”
Shifting focus to Pretoria‑Washington relations, Pandor noted that ties had deteriorated under U.S. President Donald Trump but expressed cautious optimism about the incoming Congress following Democrats’ victories in the November elections. She implied that a newer congressional agenda might align more closely with South Africa’s commitment to human rights and international law.
Overall, Pandor’s appeal underscores a broader effort by South Africa to advance its case through public scrutiny, to enforce stricter interim measures by the ICJ, and to galvanize international support—particularly from the United States—to safeguard civilians in Gaza amid allegations of genocide.
