In Geneva on Tuesday, former South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor urged the International Court of Justice to hold public hearings on its genocide case against Israel, calling for stronger interim measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza.
The United Nations court, where the case was lodged in December 2023, has not yet ruled on whether Israel violated the Genocide Convention. It has, however, issued provisional orders directing Israel to prevent acts that could be classified as genocide and to allow humanitarian aid to Gaza. Pandor said South Africa seeks not only to confirm the legal assessment but also to ensure the orders are robust and enforceable.
Case background and legal timeline
Under the Genocide Convention, South Africa can request a provisional order and, if the case is established, a permanent judgment. The court is set to receive written arguments from South Africa by 22 November 2027 and from Israel by 22 May 2029. No hearing date has yet been fixed, and Pandor said that holding public sessions would help the “world to adjudicate” the accusations of ongoing genocide.
South Africa’s submission, filed while Pandor was foreign minister from 2019 to 2024, includes a dossier dated 25 August alleging that Israel has failed to comply with the three provisional orders issued by the court. The file was intended to aid judges in monitoring compliance and to prompt further legal action if necessary.
During a recent panel at the TRT World Forum, Pandor warned that the court should “articulate stronger measures” in response to her country’s latest filing. She also mentioned the court’s need to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza without delay.
“We would like to see stronger measures articulated by the ICJ in response to our recent submission,” Pandor told the forum.
She said the Iranian‑backed attacks on her reputation had increased after South Africa’s case. The Russian‑supported media accused her of being a “tool of Iran” and of having links to Hamas headquarters in South Africa. Though Pandor dismissed the remarks as “insults are the last refuge of a scoundrel,” she said that “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.”
Beyond the legal realm, Pandor urged the United States Congress to adopt a foreign‑policy approach that prioritizes human rights. She said strained relations with Washington had highlighted the need for a more principled stance, especially after the Trump administration’s approach. With Democrats recently winning the 2024 elections, she expressed cautious optimism that the new Congress might back a more human‑rights‑focused agenda.
Pandor’s appeal comes amid escalating fighting in Gaza, where civilians are bearing the brunt of airstrikes and blockages. She called on the International Court of Justice to give the public a chance to witness the proceedings and to ensure the court’s orders are less symbolic and more enforceable. Her request underscores the urgency of addressing questions about the legality of Israel’s military actions and the protection of Palestinian civilians.
