From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
South Africa says ‘deplorable’ Rafah strike ‘bears testimony’ to assertions of genocide
South Africa condemns as “deplorable” an IDF strike on Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, in which Israel targeted two senior Hamas officials.
The attack, which Palestinian officials say killed 45 people in a displaced persons camp, triggered global outrage and an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
“The South African Government joins the international community in condemning the deplorable and brutal attacks on innocent civilians after Israeli forces bombed a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians,” the foreign ministry says.
It noted that the strike came two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to cease military operations in Rafah that would risk the destruction of the civilian population sheltering there.
The ICJ’s ruling was issued last week as part of a case brought by South Africa alleging that the Israeli operation in Gaza amounts to “genocide.”
“What we are witnessing today bears testimony to South Africa’s assertions,” the foreign ministry adds.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday called the strike a “tragic mishap” but also vowed to push on with the military campaign to destroy Hamas and free the hostages seized by the terror group during its October 7 massacre.
