South Africa said its citizens serving in the Israeli army could face prosecution at home, as President Cyril Ramaphosa once again denounced Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip for the 74th day as “genocide.”
South Africa’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was “deeply concerned” by reports that some Israeli soldiers who are also South African citizens have joined the Israeli army to fight in Gaza, or are considering doing so.
“Such action is likely to contribute to violating international law and committing further international crimes, making them vulnerable to prosecution in South Africa,” the ministry added.
The Foreign Ministry explained that South African citizens need prior government approval to fight legally in Israel. She added that naturalized citizens were at additional risk of being stripped of their South African citizenship for engaging in a war “that the country does not support or agree with”.
He did not specify the number of South African citizens believed to have been recruited in Israel, but the government previously said the State Security Agency was tracking them.
war crimes
Yesterday, Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the International Criminal Court to conduct an immediate investigation into the war crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Ramaphosa explained that they had submitted the necessary documents to the International Criminal Court regarding Israeli war crimes, and that they were waiting for the court to take action regarding the investigation.
He pointed out that the International Criminal Court has the authority to indict those responsible for war crimes committed in Palestine.
He added, “We want the court to act in accordance with its laws, rules and regulations.”
He described the Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip as a violation of international humanitarian law.
It is noteworthy that South Africa submitted a request to the International Criminal Court last month to investigate war crimes committed by Israel.
Also last month, South Africa summoned its diplomats from Israel to evaluate its relationship with it as the number of civilian martyrs increased in the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The South African Foreign Ministry previously summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest what it described as his unfortunate behavior related to the war on Gaza.
South Africa called on the United Nations to deploy a rapid force to protect civilians in Gaza.
Source : Tel Aviv Tribune + Israeli press + Anatolia Agency
