By Laurence F. Sanford

On January 11, 2024, South Africa filed charges of genocide against Israel in the United Nations International Court of Justice for casualties incurred against citizens of Gaza by Israel. No mention was made that the casualties were in response to Hamas atrocities committed against Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023. Hamas murdered, raped, and tortured over 1,200 Israelis, and over 200 were taken hostage. Hamas claims over 25,000 Gazans have died.

No charges have been filed by South Africa or any other nation in the court against Hamas for its atrocities. On the contrary, worldwide demonstrations have been in support of Hamas. The rationale for Hamas support is classic Marxism — that Israel is the oppressor and the Palestinians are the oppressed. Add Islamic ideology that Israel has no right to exist, and one has massive demonstrations against Israel led by Marxists and Muslims.

From Israel’s founding in 1948 to the early 2000s, relations between Israel and South Africa were mostly friendly. However, relations deteriorated with changes in the ruling political party, African National Congress (ANC) leadership, and the ongoing Palestinian conflict. Crime, corruption, and social conflict between blacks and whites has steadily increased under ANC rule. Violent crime in South Africa is among the highest in the world.

South Africa has long been a supporter of Palestinian and Hamas causes, equating Jewish defensive measures to apartheid similar to what black South Africans were subjected to under previous white rule.

Senior Hamas officials were invited to Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, in December 2023 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s death at the age of 95. Included in the ceremony was a Hamas delegation with former Hamas minister Basem Naim and Hamas’s representative in Iran, Khaled Qaddoumi. The ceremony was led by Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa (1994-1999). He was a leader in the ANC and in the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM). Founded in Great Britain in 1959, AAM called for the worldwide boycott of South African goods. Beginning in 1962, Mandela spent 27 years in jail for political offenses. He received the Nobel Prize in 1993 for his role in dismantling apartheid. Mandela was also a supporter of Palestinians.

South Africa is one of the BRICS trading bloc countries formed to move the world economy away from U.S. dollar domination. BRICS represents Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Recently, the countries of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joined BRICS. None of the above countries can be called friendly towards the U.S. and Western Civilization except possibly India.

The Communist Party in South Africa has significant influence within ANC dating back to the Soviet Union’s backing of ANC’s efforts to dismantle apartheid. South Africa held joint naval exercises with Russia and China in February 2023. South Africa refused to join in sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine invasion and abstained from condemning it in a UN vote.

Summary

South Africa’s filing of genocide against Israel at the United Nations is a classic example of hypocrisy. ANC ignored World Court rulings when the rulings went against its policies. ANC closed the Israeli embassy and voted to sever diplomatic relations because of Gaza.

Why do so many countries and organizations demonize Israel? Western Civilization should be defending the right for Israel to exist. Judaism is a foundational block in Western Civilization’s concept of individual freedoms and social care.

Action

Reciprocity is needed in American foreign policy. If South Africa files genocide charges against Israel in the UN, then the U.S. should file genocide charges against Hamas.

The U.S. should support gray zone activities in support of American interests.

Invest in the U.S. military and supporting industrial complexes.

Laurence F. Sanford is a senior analyst at the American Security Council Foundation.