No ceasefire, but SA wins substantive rights measures in the Gaza genocide case

The article does not mention that Hamas is required to release all the hostages.

There was no order of a ceasefire, because the ICJ recognises that this war is a legitimate act of defence against the brutal aggression of Hamas on October 7, as well as the continual and ongoing indiscriminate rocket attacks that originate from Gaza. No reasonable human being wishes for the continuation of this or any other war or celebrates the loss of a single life. The court recognises that a major justification for the continued actions of Israel is in the obligation a government has to protect its citizens and free those that are held in captivity and raped on a daily basis. By calling for the immediate release of these hostages, the complicity of Hamas in the continuation of this war is finally spoken aloud on the world stage. We are finally reminded that this is a war in response to an unspeakable aggression, with an objective, and there are two parties who have agency in how those objectives are met. There was not a single specific act identified or mentioned. The provisional measures and orders, were merely a general statement of the obvious and pre-existing expectations placed on Israel to act within the confines of international law, which it does and will. And the requirement to report and be scrutinised on this, will give a globally recognised framework by which to be further legitimised. The notion that the “steps” to be taken, forbid the continuation of the war, with the potential for civilian death, is tragically a manipulative distortion aimed at I am not sure who? Further sewing the seeds of expectations that will not be met, such as South Africa emerging as the big peace maker of the world. Similarly, by accepting jurisdiction to hear the case, a framework is provided by which to be cleared of this charge, however costly this proves to be in terms of time, resources and distraction, and the further divisions sewn by biased and distorted reporting as exampled by the above article. The orders were directed at Israel alone, because the Palestinians lack a credible leadership to which similar cautions may be addressed, having elected a terror organisation as their leadership who couldn’t care less about international law. What point would there be to order the cessation of rocket attacks, themselves unambiguously indiscriminate in their intent? What point would there be to order Hamas to not impede the flow of civilians away from targeted areas? To allow aid to reach its intended civilian recipients and not end up stockpiled in tunnels? To step down from its position of appropriating the entire territory of Gaza, under the guise of leadership, to wage a futile and costly war of annihilation against Israel that has precluded any semblance of progress towards autonomy and state-building for the Palestinians? The actions of October 7 do not require a careful examination to be recognised as war crimes, or simply as crimes, since these actions do not deserve to be even partly shielded behind a cloak of war. These were acts of rape, torture, mutilation and execution that have become a footnote to every article – the 1400 that must be mentioned as a duty to maintain some illusion of balance, before laying into Israel. So no, this is not a victory, for anyone really. It is a sideshow. I would applaud any meaningful effort, to bring an end to this war. Where is South Africa’s attempt to negotiate for the release of hostages, given their relationship with Hamas? Where is the sincerity in the condemnation of the horrific atrocities of October 7, when seen alongside the cosying up to Hamas – receiving delegations and the like? Where is anything of any substance? A great amount of attention has now been given to a process that will achieve nothing positive but will have negative unintended consequences. Organisations like Hamas will feel legitimised and emboldened. Israel will be further vilified, further isolated, and less able to see ways towards peaceful settlements that feel sufficiently secure for its citizens. They will wear the heavy mantle of those accused of genocide until eventually cleared – much as a man’s life may be ruined by the charge of rape, even when he is eventually shown to be innocent. These consequences have not been considered. What seems to irritate many other respondents too, is just the dissonance of seeing our politicians enjoy this limelight. Our politicians who cannot oversee a single conviction after our country has been stripped bare by state capture. Our politicians under whose watch this country collapses a little more each day. As a final comment, Gaza has been described by many as the biggest open-air prison in the world. These people have obviously not driven past Du Noon or Khayelitsha lately. Huge swathes of our population exist in true open-air prisons. They are prisoners of the economic hopelessness perpetrated on this country by an inability to lead and serve, by a corrupt and self-interested party. People are right to feel aggrieved that a complex and remote geopolitical situation, receives more attention and warrants live television posturing by our cardboard cutout state president, while the majority of our own population live out their dismal existences in conditions far worse than those experienced in Gaza. Hypocrites. Release hostages. Hamas surrender and disarm. Ceasefire.

If this was a slam dunk victory for SA, how would it had been if SA had turned in Putin to the court? He didn't trust the ANC leadership to be the spineless cowards they are, so he didn't give you the chance. Instead SA has provided Putin with a diversion from Russia's intended ongoing genocide in Ukraine, and as it seems delivered weapons to do it.

What a mess. ANC proved nothing. Israel must and will continue the counter-offensive. Show the ANC how a real govt reacts to attacks against its people. Hamas' stated aim is the elimination of Israel. We would have had a much beter case if we took Hamas and Palestine to court on the same charges. The fact that Israel strikes harder than Hamas is irrelevant. I promise you that if Hamas could reverse the kill ratio they would.

Does God say He curses those that curse Israel and He blesses those who bless Israel…….Derek Prince mentions this…I wonder how ANC will do in the next election. I suspect they just blew both feet off with a howitzer

Would be fantastic if our care bear of a prez could raise the same level of effort to stop the rampant civil rights abuses enabled by his appointees in our country. 70 south africans murdered every day doesn't even seem to raise his pulse

It is painfully heartening for a country to experience such mass loss of its civilians at the hands of those who have economic interests in it . I suggests the global countries who witnessed this genocide can unite against this kind of behavior from those who have resources to manipulate them .

Now that the whole world acknowledge that UNWRA was captured by Hamas in exactly the same way the ANC cadres the South African Revenue services and the Tender system: Is it still a diplomatic victory? Was there really any gain for the ANC? It was not SA that brought the case before the ICJ but the ANC. The state capture narrative will stick to the ANC and eventually destroys them from the inside. It is the international banking system that hold the key to ANC financing. And who control the international banking system? ANC - Prepare yourselves for a huge exposé.

What a convenient Hamas tinted view. Hopefully, this joy will fill your bellies and keep the roof over your heads when the retribution is handed out and we become Zimbabwe on steriods - economically.

DONT TRAMP ON A LIONS TAIL, WITHOUT A LOADED GUN, OR ROBUST SUPPORT FROM BIG POWERS! WELL DONE RSA , FOR YOUR HONOURABLE STANCE AGAINST INJUSTICE, BUT TAKE COGNIZANCE OF DIRE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES THAT POTENTIALLY WILL CRIPPLE, NOT THE ANC GOVERNMENT, BUT ITS POOR PEOPLE. SOUTH AFRICA CONTRIBUTES ONLY ABOUT 0.5% OF THE ECONOMY. JUST A MERE DROP!!