LETTER | South Africa: An icon of global justice

LETTER | The Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (Acid) welcomes South Africa’s lawsuit in the United Nations’ highest court, alleging that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide of Palestinians and seeking the campaign’s end.

The first hearing at Hague could have a possible provisional ruling within weeks that would have implications on global justice and its moral legitimacy has a great impact on the legitimacy of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

It is obvious this case would strike at the heart of Israel’s national identity, as a regime that lacks compassion for humanity and is supported by a hypocritical West, led by the United States, that has no real concern for human life, dignity and rights, but more towards strategic interest.

At the same time, Palestinians are left helpless due to influential Arab-Muslim governments’ own domestic rights violations and involvement in proxy wars, which makes them unable to morally and credibly bring Israel to justice.

There are those who believe that the reason South Africa has brought the Palestinian cause to the international court is due to its own suffering from decades of apartheid, which is simplistic.

The very act of solidarity and the ability to transcend political, economic, ethnoreligious and ideological trappings has made South Africa an icon for global justice.

We at Acid would like to urge all nations to join the bandwagon and take necessary measures to complement the efforts of South Africa - even if it includes breaking diplomatic ties with Israel.

RONALD BENJAMIN is the secretary for Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue.

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