SOUTH AFRICA Oct 15, 2025 – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa affirmed on Tuesday that a recent US-backed ceasefire in Gaza will not derail his nation’s landmark genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), underscoring Pretoria’s commitment to accountability for alleged atrocities in the Palestinian territory.
Speaking before parliament in Cape Town, Ramaphosa welcomed the ceasefire deal as a positive step but made clear it holds no sway over the legal proceedings. “The peace deal that has been struck, which we welcome, will have no bearing on the case that is before the International Court of Justice,” he stated. The president emphasized the necessity of judicial reckoning for lasting peace, adding, “We cannot go forward without the healing that needs to take place, which will also result from the case that has been launched being properly heard.”
South Africa initiated the case on December 29, 2023, accusing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza of amounting to genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention. In October 2024, Pretoria submitted a comprehensive 500-page memorial detailing its claims. Israel is required to file its counter-memorial by January 12, 2026, with oral hearings slated for 2027 and a final ruling potentially arriving in late 2027 or early 2028.
The ICJ has already issued three provisional measures since the case’s filing, ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts, ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, and preserve evidence. However, rights groups and UN experts have criticized Israel for non-compliance. Palestinian health authorities report over 67,000 deaths in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when the war erupted following a Hamas attack that killed 1,139 Israelis.
Ramaphosa’s remarks come as South Africa co-chairs The Hague Group, a coalition of nations formed in January 2025 to pursue legal, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Israel beyond the ICJ docket. Several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Turkiye, and Colombia, have joined or signaled intent to intervene in the case. Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned that inaction by governments risks making them “complicit in the atrocities.”
Israel has vehemently denied the genocide allegations, framing its operations as self-defense against Hamas. No immediate response from Jerusalem to Ramaphosa’s comments was available.
Global voices echoed support for the case’s continuation. United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese posted on X that “peace without justice, respect for human rights and dignity, without reparations and guarantees of non repetition, is not sustainable.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez insisted, “There cannot be impunity,” adding that “the main actors of the genocide will have to answer to justice.” A September 2025 UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, while Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have leveled similar accusations.
As the ceasefire takes hold, the ICJ proceedings represent a rare international legal challenge to Israel’s actions, potentially setting precedents on genocide accountability even as diplomatic efforts aim to stabilize the region. Al Jazeera English highlighted the case’s timeline in a recent infographic, noting that while a final ruling could take years, provisional measures were expected swiftly after initial hearings in January 2024.