KUALA LUMPUR – South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hopefully bring about an immediate ceasefire on the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza, the Palestinian Solidarity Secretariat said.
Its spokesman, former Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, said the case had helped to highlight the atrocities against Palestinians, and placed the issue back on the table for international discussion.
“So we are hoping that the court case will actually lead to a more positive position, to an immediate ceasefire, to get the humanitarian aid back into Gaza and to sit down to have a much longer discussion on the solution for Palestine,” she said at the secretariat’s gathering outside the South African embassy this morning.
The gathering was for the movement to hand over a congratulatory letter to the embassy for taking the initiative and leadership in putting up a court case against Israel.
Former Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, who is also with the secretariat, said it was crucial for Malaysia to show leadership in addressing the Palestine-Israel issue as it did in the 1980s.
“They (South Africa) are hoping that Malaysia plays a more active role in the international scene because the Global South from the Third World lacks voices at the moment.
“They feel that it will be good to have more countries from the developing world to be in leadership together with South Africa as a lot more can be achieved,” Chua told reporters today.
According to the former PKR leader, the ICJ is expected to issue an interim decision by February 5, as some of its judges are retiring then.
While the ICJ’s decision may not bring a full and immediate stop to Israel’s aggressions, it lends hope for a ceasefire, he said.
“There are a lot of more technicalities about what’s the next step but also legal issues about how to enforce it (ceasefire).”
Meanwhile, South Africa’s high commissioner to Malaysia, Dave Malcomson, said Malaysia and South Africa had a long history of supporting each other.
“I think it is important that South Africa and Malaysia stand together on such an important issue to make sure the killing and atrocities stop and to ensure we can get an immediate ceasefire so we can open the humanitarian aid access again.
“Together, we can support Palestinians to make sure they can finally achieve the dream (freedom) for themselves,” Malcomson said after the ceremony to hand over the letter. – January 18, 2024