Cape Town – African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking at a pro-Palestine gathering in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Mbalula compared the situation to the ICC’s treatment of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine invasion.
He insisted that if the ICC didn’t take action against Netanyahu, it would be letting him escape accountability for violating Palestinian human rights.
“Netanyahu must be arrested now. Netanyawu is a war criminal. If the ICC can take a decision about Ukraine and that Putin must be arrested, why are you leaving out a murderer like Netanyahu whois killing children, whois bombing hospitals, whois bombing refugee camps?,” Mbalula said.
[WATCH] We are here as the ANC to add our voice to the forward march towards the self-determination of the Palestinian people.
If the ICC can take a decision that Putin must be arrested, why are they leaving out Netanyahu who is killing children and bombing hospitals?… pic.twitter.com/mdxKgvZVxl
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) November 29, 2023
He also reiterated the ANC’s demand for the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, while the South African government expressed reluctance to sever diplomatic ties with Israel.
“That embassy must be shut down – not yesterday, but today,” said Mbalula.
[WATCH] We are here today to make a statement, joining patriots in our country and the global community calling for justice for the Palestine and her people. Ours is to guarantee the self-determination of the Palestinian people, and fight the occupation of their land by the… pic.twitter.com/PBopLgO8cq
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) November 29, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
