WeeklySA_AdminGenocide: The un Commisson of Inquiry has confirmed that Israel was responsible for genocide in Gaza
By Monk Nkomo
The United Nations Security Council had proven to be ineffective in its current form and South Africa remained deeply concerned by the erosion of the credibility of its failure to ensure accountability and uphold international law, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Addressing the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, he added that as the security and humanitarian situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Gaza and elsewhere deteriorated, it was a matter of grave concern that there were countries that continued to violate international law and defying UN resolutions and rulings from bodies like the International Court of Justice.
Ramaphosa was leading the South African delegation at the UN ‘s 80th anniversary under the theme : ‘’ Better together : 80 years and more for peace , development and human rights.’’
He again called for the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people to self determination. ‘’ As nations that have pledged to uphold the UN Charter, we have the ultimate responsibility to ensure and protect the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.’’
Consistent with the case that South Africa brought before the International Court of Justice, there was growing global consensus that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry recently established that Israel was indeed, responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza.
‘’As Palestinians continue to face genocide and famine, we have a duty to act. We cannot and should not accept that members of this Organisation continue to violate, without consequence, the Charter that we have all agreed to uphold,’’ said Ramaphosa.
He welcomed the historic High-Level meeting that was held in the UN Chamber last week on the Two-State Solution. This reflected the determination of the global majority that Palestinians deserved a peaceful State alongside a peaceful Israel. ‘’ The long overdue announcement by an increasing number of countries to recognize the State of Palestine was testament to this determination.’’
Ramaphosa raised concern over failure by member countries to create peace in war-torn countries. ‘’ We are building weapons when we should be building social infrastructure. We are fighting wars that cause death and destruction when we should be fighting poverty and developing the livelihoods of vulnerable people.
We must act decisively to silence the guns everywhere to realise the goal of sustainable development and global peace.’’
The United Nations at 80, Ramaphosa added, compelled Member States to reflect on their collective achievement and to chart a way forward in building an Organisation that is able to address their common challenges. He urged members to rise to the occasion and do their utmost together to ensure the political, economic and social freedom of all humanity.
‘’ We must reaffirm that freedom is indivisible and that the denial of the right of one person diminishes the freedom of us all. We must reaffirm the equal dignity and worth of every person and must therefore leave no one behind.’’
Ramaphosa said eighty years ago, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and build a peaceful, prosperous and just world arising from the devastation brought about by global conflict.
Through the UN Charter, the nations of the world pledged to uphold peace, development and human rights underpinned by international law.
Now more than ever, they were called upon to uphold the values and advance the purpose of the United Nations and to advance cooperation and solidarity between nations. They were called upon to promote multilateralism and safeguard the institutions that enabled it.
‘’South Africa’s engagement in the international sphere echoes our domestic imperatives of eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment and addressing the root causes of inequality. Our foreign policy is guided not only by the needs of our people, but also those of the continent of Africa and the Global South.
Inspired by our own history, South Africa strives to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes through negotiation and dialogue, not war’’.
Ramaphosa welcomed the strong partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in promoting peace, security and stability on the African continent.
He also announced that South Africa was honoured to preside over the G20 this year. This was the first time that the G20 Leaders’ Summit would be held on the African Continent, the Cradle of Humankind. South Africa’s G20 Presidency was guided by the theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.
