‘Palestinians suffering from extreme form of Apartheid,’ SA tells ICJ

The South African ambassador to The Hague, Vusi Madonsela, has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Palestinian people were suffering from an extreme form of apartheid more severe than what South Africans experienced.

Madonsela said South Africa has always supported a two-state solution, saying that it would not undo the injustices of “settler colonialism” if Israel were not made to relinquish land rightfully due to Palestinians.

RETURN ALL PALESTINIAN REFUGEES AND LAND – SA TELLS ICJ

“Unless such an approach deals with the inequitable offering of land to Palestinians, the dismantling of all the illegal settlements, the right of return of all Palestinian refugees, such a solution may solidify the disenfranchisement of the indigenous people of Palestine,” said the ambassador according to the Mail & Guardian.

‘SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PARALLEL WITH THEIR PAST’

Madonsela said South Africans have long seen a parallel with their past in the plight of the Palestinian people but believed that the ongoing oppression and violence inflicted in the occupied territories was worse still than what they endured under the apartheid regime.

“We as South Africans sense, see, hear and feel to our core the inhumane discriminatory policies and practices of the Israeli regime as an even more extreme form of the apartheid that was institutionalised against black people in my country,” he said. “It is clear that Israel’s illegal occupation is also being administered in breach of the prohibition of the crime of apartheid.”

SA GOVERNMENT REQUEST TO ICJ

Recently, the South African government requested that South Africa make an urgent appeal to the World Court to intervene after Israel launched attacks on Rafah in southern Gaza.

The court is hearing submissions from 52 nations following a request from the United Nations to advise it on the consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land for more than half a century. South Africa was the first to make its oral submission.

source:‘Palestinians suffering from extreme form of Apartheid,’ SA tells ICJ (thesouthafrican.com)