Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
02 August 2024 | 23:11 CAT
2-minute read

• The assassination and ‘Israel’s actions are direct attacks on international law and have brought to attention the facetiousness of the very institutions that are meant to uphold justice.
• South Africa calls on international law enforcement agencies to fulfil their duties to protect people.
• “It sends the region into turmoil, and we are concerned that we are going to see the region escalating into indiscernible levels of violence. Already as we speak, the level of violence that is meted out against the people of Palestine is at the grandest scale of inhumanity and genocide,” Mr Phiri said.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the government of South Africa condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh early on Wednesday.

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation expressed condolences to the Haniyeh family and expressed deep concern that the assassination, coupled with Israel’s intense genocidal war efforts in Gaza will further increase the volatility of the situation in the region.

Mr Crispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, told Radio Islam International earlier today that the assassination could jeopardise peace discussions, particularly those between ‘Israel’ and Hamas, given Haniyeh’s key role as negotiator.

“He was the lead negotiator on behalf of Hamas and the people of Palestine. So by obliterating the very person who is supposed to be an interlocutor in this process is really, really an act of great concern,” Mr Phiri said.

The state of South Africa echoes global calls for the multilateral bodies that are the custodians of international law and justice to take up their role to protect people.

The assassination and ‘Israel’s actions are direct attacks on international law and have brought to attention the facetiousness of the very institutions that are meant to uphold justice.

“International law itself is being persecuted… And if it can be floundered the way it is being floundered in this region, particularly by the Apartheid regime of ‘Israel’, then we are deeply concerned the multilateral institutions might not be worth the paper they are written on. And we will see a complete collapse of the international law system that we have, and the humanitarian law system that we have,” Mr Phiri said.

‘Israel’ is still prohibiting the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza- an issue currently high on DIRCO’s list.

South Africa’s foreign policy is rooted in the concept of ubuntu (humanity) and informs the country’s obligation to ensure that the conventions and institutions that are in place work effectively.

Given Palestine’s condemnation of oppression during the Apartheid regime in South Africa, Mr Phiri emphasised the importance of showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

“We owe it to the people of Palestine to exhibit the same level of solidarity that they exhibited to us,” Mr Phiri said.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Muallimah Annisa Essack.