Israel is reportedly urging the United States to exert pressure on South Africa to withdraw its legal actions against Israel at the UN International Court of Justice. These actions pertain to allegations of “genocide” in Gaza. According to a leaked cable from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israel is asking US legislators to threaten trade sanctions if South Africa does not abandon these cases.
The cable, which was sent to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, urges US lawmakers, governors, and Jewish organizations to apply significant pressure on South Africa. It emphasizes that continued support for Hamas and the advancement of anti-Israeli resolutions in international courts will have severe repercussions for South Africa’s trade relations with the US.
Israeli diplomats are also reportedly being advised to advocate for legislation in the US that targets South Africa in order to sway its policy decisions. This push reflects the heightened diplomatic tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Since the conflict’s escalation in October 2023, over 41,000 Palestinian civilians, including a significant number of women and children, have been reported killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The Gaza health ministry has reported these casualties, along with additional deaths in the West Bank amid the broader regional conflict.
South Africa has taken legal action against Israel twice at the UN International Court of Justice—once in December 2023 and again in May 2024. These cases are focused on Israel’s military actions in Gaza and their humanitarian impact. This ongoing legal confrontation highlights the strained diplomatic relations between the two nations and underscores the international community’s concern over the Gaza crisis.