Pretoria – South Africa says it takes “solemn account” of the findings of a United Nations inquiry that Israel bears responsibility for the commission of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
“The Government of the Republic of South Africa takes solemn account of the findings of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel,” the SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement issued Wednesday, 17 September 2025.
The Commission has concluded that the State of Israel bears responsibility for the commission of genocide, the failure to prevent genocide, and the failure
to punish genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Commission’s report concludes that the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have committed and are continuing to commit the following four genocidal acts, as defined in the 1948 Genocide Convention:
• Killing members of the group;
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
This report stands as a stark confirmation of the very dire situation that compelled South Africa to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023.
The ICJ subsequently issued three successive orders on provisional measures on 26 January, 28 March, and 24 May 2024, aimed at protecting Palestinians in Gaza from irreparable harm.
It is with profound disappointment that the Commission’s report highlights the regrettable fact that these binding interim orders have not been heeded by Israel.
“In the face of this latest report, which provides a comprehensive, forensically detailed account of an ongoing genocide, the need for international action has never been more urgent,” said Pretoria – South Africa says it takes “solemn account” of the findings of a United Nations inquiry that found that Israel bears responsibility for the commission of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
“The Government of the Republic of South Africa takes solemn account of the findings of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel,” the SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement issued Wednesday, 17 September 2025.
The Commission has concluded that the State of Israel bears responsibility for the commission of genocide, the failure to prevent genocide, and the failure
to punish genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Commission’s report concludes that the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have committed and are continuing to commit the following four genocidal acts, as defined in the 1948 Genocide Convention:
• Killing members of the group;
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
This report stands as a stark confirmation of the very dire situation that compelled South Africa to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023.
The ICJ subsequently issued three successive orders on provisional measures on 26 January, 28 March, and 24 May 2024, aimed at protecting Palestinians in Gaza from irreparable harm.
It is with profound disappointment that the Commission’s report highlights the regrettable fact that these binding interim orders have not been heeded by Israel.
“In the face of this latest report, which provides a comprehensive, forensically detailed account of an ongoing genocide, the need for international action has never been more urgent,” the statement said.
“South Africa reiterates its call for all States to immediately fulfill their solemn obligations under the Genocide Convention.”
As the Commission makes clear, parties to the Convention are obliged to
(i) ensure that Israel implements all orders for provisional measures issued by the International Court of
Justice;
(ii) cooperate to bring to an end all Israeli actions in Gaza that amount to a violation of the Genocide Convention;
(iii) take steps to ensure the prevention of conduct that may amount to an act of genocide under the Genocide Convention,
including the transfer of weapons that are used or likely to be used by Israel to commit genocidal acts;
(iv) not recognise as lawful the military operations in Gaza
that led to the violations of peremptory norms (jus cogens), including genocide; and
(v) conduct investigations and take steps to ensure the punishment of violations of peremptory norms.
“To this end, the government of South Africa has submitted three public dossiers of information to the United Nations Security Council, a measure to ensure the UN acts in accordance with Article 94 of its Charter,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
“It is increasingly clear that Palestinian people are facing a threat of erasure in real time; the entire system of international law is on the line.
“At stake is not merely the fate of the Palestinian people, but the very principle of justice over impunity.”.
“South Africa reiterates its call for all States to immediately fulfill their solemn obligations under the Genocide Convention.”
As the Commission makes clear, parties to the Convention are obliged to
(i) ensure that Israel implements all orders for provisional measures issued by the International Court of
Justice;
(ii) cooperate to bring to an end all Israeli actions in Gaza that amount to a violation of the Genocide Convention;
(iii) take steps to ensure the prevention of conduct that may amount to an act of genocide under the Genocide Convention,
including the transfer of weapons that are used or likely to be used by Israel to commit genocidal acts;
(iv) not recognise as lawful the military operations in Gaza
that led to the violations of peremptory norms (jus cogens), including genocide; and
(v) conduct investigations and take steps to ensure the punishment of violations of peremptory norms.
“To this end, the government of South Africa has submitted three public dossiers of information to the United Nations Security Council, a measure to ensure the UN acts in accordance with Article 94 of its Charter,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
“It is increasingly clear that Palestinian people are facing a threat of erasure in real time; the entire system of international law is on the line.
“At stake is not merely the fate of the Palestinian people, but the very principle of justice over impunity.”
