‘So the world can adjudicate’: Ex-South African foreign minister urges public ICJ hearing on Gaza genocide case

What the report says

Former South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor has called for public hearings in the genocide case brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice, arguing that the process should be open so the wider world can observe and judge the evidence. Anadolu Agency Africa reports that Pandor also pressed for stronger measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza.

The remarks come against the backdrop of South Africa’s case at the ICJ concerning Israel’s military conduct in Gaza. Public hearings would allow governments, legal observers and the public to follow the arguments more directly, rather than relying only on written filings or closed-door legal debate. The request reflects broader calls from some officials and rights advocates for greater transparency in a case with major international attention.

The issue matters because the ICJ case has become one of the most closely watched legal efforts tied to the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there. Pandor’s intervention underscores continuing pressure on international institutions to respond to the situation and on states to pursue additional steps aimed at civilian protection. General background: the ICJ handles disputes between states and can issue provisional measures, but its proceedings do not function like a criminal trial.