Former South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has called for urgent reforms to the United Nations and the creation of an international military force to enforce rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), particularly in light of the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
In an exclusive interview in Istanbul, Pandor criticized the global community’s failure to prevent what she described as “genocidal attacks” on Palestinians, accusing powerful countries of enabling impunity for Israel. “We cannot allow the world to stand by, helpless, while people are being slaughtered,” Pandor said. “There must be a global enforcement mechanism—military if necessary—to protect innocent lives wherever they are at risk.”
Pandor, who was South Africa’s foreign minister when the country filed a genocide case against Israel at the ICJ in December 2023, stressed that UN reform must include changes to the composition of the Security Council, which she said currently reflects the interests of powerful states, some of whom contribute to global conflicts.
The ICJ has ordered Israel to take steps to prevent genocide and allow humanitarian access to Gaza, but stopped short of mandating a ceasefire—raising concerns over the court’s ability to enforce its rulings without international support.
The United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been a staunch supporter of Israel and has used its veto power to block resolutions critical of Tel Aviv. This stance has strained US-South Africa relations, especially since Washington suspended $440 million in aid to Pretoria and expelled South African diplomat Ebrahim Rasool following his outspoken remarks on US foreign policy.
Speaking to Anadolu, Rasool confirmed that pressure had been mounting on South Africa to drop the ICJ case. “There was no way the US would allow us to maintain normal diplomatic relations without withdrawing the genocide charges,” he said. Despite the fallout, he described his expulsion as “a success of diplomacy,” having engaged with numerous US lawmakers to build support for South Africa’s legal position.
Pandor, now a lecturer in international relations, said the ICJ case highlights the need to eliminate double standards in international law. “When African nations breach international law, there’s immediate response. But when powerful Western allies do, the world looks away,” she said.
She emphasized that both Israel and South Africa are signatories to the Genocide Convention, and all parties are obligated not only to refrain from genocide but to prevent and punish it.
Despite deteriorating ties with the US, South Africa has received formal backing for its ICJ case from countries including Belgium, Mexico, Türkiye, and Spain. As G20 chair, South Africa had invited US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to its summit, but he declined. Former US President Donald Trump also signaled he would not attend.
In conclusion, Pandor said, “The world must not go silent. If we stop raising our voices for Palestine, their struggle may be forgotten—and that is something we cannot allow.”