The request for arrest warrants is for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three leaders of the Palestinian Hamas movement: Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh.

In this regard, the South African Presidency reiterated its country’s position of commitment to “the international rule of law, universal respect for human rights and the resolution of all international disputes through negotiation and not war, and the self-determination of all peoples, including the Palestinians.”

The South African government has consistently said that all participants in the Israel-Palestine conflict must ensure that the fighting and hostilities (in the Gaza Strip) end immediately.

This contemplates that all hostages must be released immediately and Israel must immediately withdraw its military forces from Gaza.

“This is the only way in which the rights of the Palestinian civilian population can be protected and the basis for a sustainable peace can be achieved,” Ramaphosa emphasized.

On Monday, ICC Prosecutor Karim Kahn KC said that, based on evidence, his office has reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity” which include starving civilians to death as a method of warfare, and intentionally causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, intentional homicide, or murder as a war crime among other offenses.

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