In brief
Naledi Pandor, former South Africa foreign minister, has asked the ICJ to hold public hearings on her country’s genocide case against Israel and to issue stronger interim measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza. The case, filed in December 2023, remains unresolved, and Pandor warns of ongoing personal attacks after her advocacy. She also urged U.S. Congress to adopt a human‑rights‑focused foreign policy.
Former South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor made a public appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Tuesday, urging the court to hold hearings on her country’s genocide case against Israel and to adopt stronger interim measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza. The call came ahead of the court’s upcoming deadline for written arguments from South Africa and Israel.
She said the world needs to adjudicate whether the allegations of genocide hold up to legal scrutiny, citing the case's filing in December 2023 while she served in the foreign ministry from 2019 to 2024.
She emphasized the need for immediate, more robust measures, calling for the ICJ to reinforce its provisional orders that require Israel to prevent acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention and to ensure vital humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
No date has yet been set for public hearings, but the court has scheduled written submissions: South Africa must submit by Nov. 22, 2027, while Israel is due by May 22, 2029.
Naledi Pandor
We would like to see stronger measures articulated by the ICJ in response to our recent submission.
During a side event at the TRT World Forum last week, Pandor reiterated her demand for stronger measures.
South Africa’s dossier, delivered on Aug. 25, alleged that Israel had failed to comply with the court’s three provisional measures orders, a move intended to help judges monitor compliance and consider further action.
Pandor has also warned of ongoing personal attacks following the case filing; she said she received additional security protection while in office and now faces criticism in media outlets critical of her stance on Israel.
Naledi Pandor
Presently, the attacks consist of articles in Zionist media where I’m called all kinds of names – I’m at Hamas headquarters in South Africa, I’m a tool of Iran and so on.
But I’ve said that insults are the last refuge of a scoundrel.
She highlighted strained relations with Washington, noting deteriorated ties under former U.S. President Donald Trump, but expressed cautious optimism about a new Congress that may support her calls for a human‑rights‑focused foreign policy.
Case details and upcoming deadlines
Public hearings, Pandor said, would lend transparency and allow the global community to witness the proceedings, thereby bolstering the legitimacy of both the ICJ’s findings and any subsequent orders. She stressed that without such proceedings, allegations of genocide could remain untested, leaving Palestinians’ safety in doubt.
The court has so far issued provisional measures aimed at safeguarding civilians, but has not ruled on the genocide claim itself. If the ICJ finds Israel’s actions constitute genocide, it could trigger obligatory reparations and potentially compel a change in Israeli policy toward Gaza residents.
Pandor’s appeal underscores the role of former leadership in shaping international norms; as the voice of her nation’s diplomatic service, she remains a key figure in advocating for accountability in the region.
With the next wave of submissions approaching, the international legal community remains poised to determine whether the ICJ will move beyond provisional safeguards and fully adjudicate the Gaza conflict’s alleged crimes.
