SA WILL STAND BY GAZA CASE

The South African government has confirmed that it will not back down on its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel. 

This despite concern among senior ANC officials that President Cyril Ramaphosa was considering withdrawing the case after a meeting with US President Donald Trump. 

The case, which accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, has generated significant international interest and support. 

Ramaphosa, with his delegation last week visited Washington to meet with Trump after the US President made unsupported allegations that a genocide was being carried out against white Afrikaner farmers.

Ramaphosa said that the ICJ matter was not discuss in the bilateral meeting but some National Executive Committee (NEC) officials of the ANC remain concerned that Trump may have twisted Ramaphosa’s arm on the matter, especially in relation to trade between the two countries.

US secretary State Marco Rubio has stated Trump will be more open to restoring ties with South Africa if South Africa reconsidered its stance on Israel.

An ANC NEC member said they were concerned about the pressure being exerted on the country, especially its views on international conflict and diplomacy. 

The source says: “There is concern among us that behind closed doors, the president might have conceded to Trump in order to fix relations. Comrades are not happy with the matter because it would mean we would be throwing Palestine and its people to the wolves.”

However, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Monday said that the government's position on the matter remains unchanged.

He says: “The position of the government and that of the president remains the same on the matter. It cannot be withdrawn and withdrawing is not even an option.”

Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Chrispin Phiri echoed Magwenya's response, stating that the matter is before the court and the court has set a deadline for Israel to file its response.