South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor on Tuesday called for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a statement to the South African parliament’s National Assembly on Tuesday, Pandor said, “The murder of children and women by Israel is an act that should have resulted in the International Criminal Court issuing an immediate arrest warrant for key decision-makers, including Mr. Netanyahu, who is responsible for violations of international criminal law,” she said.
“The facts that have been released, details of the devastation of the current conflict, are horrendous. Over a thousand Palestinians are dead, thousands injured, public facilities destroyed and cruel and wanton bombardment is ongoing. Therefore, as South Africa, we remain steadfast in calling for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire,” she continued.
Pandor also called for the arrests of the IDF’s top brass.
In recent weeks, Pandor spoke to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by telephone. There are no reports of her asking for the release of the over 240 hostages taken to Gaza from Israel during the terror group’s Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel. Pandor also flew to Iran, where she met with the Ayatollah al Khamenei.
Last week, Hamas spokesperson Khaled Quaddumi expressed the terrorist organization’s gratitude for South Africa’s support in an interview on SABC television.
