[Opinion] Hypocrisy of ICC exposes myth of international accountability
[Excerpts]
Many in the international community, including members of the South African government, celebrated last week when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The International Development and Affairs Department (the Department of International Relations and Cooperation) issued a statement saying that the move marked a “significant step towards justice” and demonstrated a “commitment to international law”, and called on the “global community to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability”.
Far from representing the ideals expressed in these hollow platitudes, the ICC’s actions actually serve as yet another example of rank hypocrisy plaguing international institutions and promoted by BRICS countries.
For instance, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), numerically controlled by the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation and BRICS (a forum including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Arab Emirates) has yet to issue condemnation of the 7 October massacre in southern Israel. Iran, Qatar, and Turkey’s sponsorship of Hamas, the terrorist organisation primarily responsible for the atrocities, has been similarly ignored. Instead, UNGA has sought to attack Israel routinely and solely, while rewarding Palestinian mass murderers with upgraded UN status.
Similarly, South Africa filed a fake and mysteriously financed case at the UN’s International Court of Justice, falsely accusing Israel of genocide. The government took no action to hold the Palestinians or Iran accountable for organising the actual genocidal attack on Israelis on 7 October. Nor did it seek to enforce the rule of law against Turkey or Qatar for their ongoing harbouring and financing of the killers. Instead, South Africa embraced these governments and hosted leaders of Hamas.
