SA welcomes ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu, Hamas leaders
An International Criminal Court application targeting the leaders of Israel and Hamas shows that no one is above the law.
Expert in international relations, John Stremlau, has described the move to put pressure on those responsible for the killings in Gaza as a positive development.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants against Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for some of Hamas's senior leaders for alleged war crimes.
“The world is of sovereign states is still predominant and yet the ICC has more enforcement powers than the International Court of Justice,” said Stremlau, a professor at Wits University.
South Africa has welcomed the application.
Spokesperson for the president, Vincent Magwenya, says the law must be applied equally to ensure accountability.
READ: ICC seeks arrest warrants for Netanyahu, top Hamas leaders
“South Africa is committed to the international rule of law, universal respect for human rights and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiation and not war, and the self-determination of all peoples, including the Palestinians."
At the same time, Netanyahu described it as an "absurd and false order".
“To seek arrest warrant against the democratically elect leaders of Israel is moral outrage. What a travesty of justice. What a disgrace."
Hamas says it "strongly condemns" the application against its leaders but supports the ICC's move against Israel.