South Africa has called on the international community to formally recognise the State of Palestine and take urgent action to stop what it describes as genocide being carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking on Tuesday, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said growing outrage among Israel’s allies over the situation in Gaza signals that the world is edging closer to halting the ongoing atrocities.
“We urge more countries around the world to recognise the State of Palestine,” Lamola said, adding that such moves would increase pressure on Israel to end its crimes against the Palestinian people.
South Africa has been a leading voice in opposing Israel’s war on Gaza and in December 2023 filed a landmark case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of committing acts of genocide.
The move catalyzed a global response, with countries such as Spain, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, Chile, and Libya voicing stronger support for the Palestinian cause. More recently, the leaders of France, the UK, and Canada have indicated plans to formally recognise Palestine in September, calling on others to follow suit.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war, while 2.4 million people now face imminent famine, as warned by humanitarian agencies.
Lamola warned that signs of famine are already visible, stating, “We warned the world this would happen. If action had been taken earlier, the humanitarian catastrophe could have been avoided.”
Diplomatic Strain with Washington
Lamola also revealed that diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States have reached a new low, accusing Washington of interfering in the country’s internal affairs. Tensions have risen following South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, as well as controversial remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that white South Africans face racial discrimination.
The Trump administration has imposed 30% tariffs on South African exports, the highest such rate for any Sub-Saharan African country, with the measures expected to take effect on Friday.
Despite the tension, Lamola said Pretoria welcomes the presence of President Trump at the upcoming G20 Summit, scheduled to take place in South Africa this November—although Trump had earlier signalled he may skip the event.
The latest statements from Pretoria reflect South Africa’s continued leadership in global human rights diplomacy and its increasingly assertive role in reshaping the international response to the war in Gaza.
