The African National Congress (ANC) said it regarded the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, as a legal victory and a moral triumph, with the GOOD Party saying their warrants are also of symbolic importance to the ICC.

On Thursday, the ICC issued the arrest warrants related to war crimes charges, drawing criticism from Israel.

The announcement followed an application by the ICC’s chief prosecutor in May for arrest warrants over charges related to the October 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group, and to the Israeli military response in Gaza.

The ANC said the “historic” ruling represented a significant step forward in the global pursuit of justice for Palestinians and reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to holding to account perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international law.

“The actions of Netanyahu and Gallant—targeting Palestinian civilians through violence, starvation, and systemic persecution—serve as a grim reminder of the cruelty endured by our people under apartheid,” pointed out ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.

She said the dehumanisation of Palestinians mirrors the oppression faced by South Africans during apartheid.

“…these parallels remind us that the fight for freedom and dignity is universal, and the struggle of the Palestinian people resonates deeply with our own,” she stated.

The ANC called for steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian cause, and believes that the ICC’s ruling sent a “powerful and unequivocal message”.

“…those who commit crimes against humanity will be held accountable. We urge the immediate enforcement of these arrest warrants and call for the continued isolation of Israel until it ceases its violations of international law and fully recognises the Palestinian people's right to self-determination,” Bhengu-Motsiri added.

The party wants the international community to intensify its condemnation of Israel’s actions.

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party stated that it was the first time the court had acted against alleged war criminals that the West regarded as friends, highlighting that the enforcement of ICC warrants of arrest had been reduced to political decisions.

“…whether countries are signatories to the Rome Statute, which created the court, or not, South Africa’s failure to effect the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir while he was in the country in 2015 contributed to this malaise,” said GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron.

He said ignoring the country’s own obligations under international law made it very difficult for South Africa to insist others abide by ICC decisions.

“The GOOD Party has supported and encouraged the South African government’s application to the International Court of Justice to have the devastation of Gaza declared a genocide in terms of the Genocide Convention. That judgment, too, will rely on the political will of nations to adhere to their international obligations” he said.

Herron went on to highlight that while he believed the warrants would likely not lead to Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif’s arrests, or an immediate ceasefire, the fact they have been issued represented an important riposte to the “impunity with which Israel has been carrying out its genocide under cover of US protection at the United Nations”.

“They will force the suppliers of arms to Israel that have been used to carry out the genocide, principally the US and Germany, to confront the immorality of arming a nation which according to the ICC is led by a war criminal,” he explained.

GOOD INTERVENTION

Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said the warrants would hopefully put an end to what he termed "madness", which he said has been going on over years in Gaza.

"...although the intervention came late but still it was a good intervention that will demonstrate that super powers cannot do as they please to the violation of everyone’s else human rights. It took the ICC really long to resolve on this matter and this is shocking when South Africa brought to the world’s attention what was really happening in Gaza," highlighted Mahumapelo. 

He pointed out that it was unacceptable that the death toll was currently at 40 000, and almost half of those were children.

The committee condemned violations of human rights from all fronts in the strongest terms, demanding peace and an end to attacks in Gaza.