Founder of global humanitarian nonprofit organisation, Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, has urged African nations to support South Africa’s battle against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Daily Trust reports that since South Africa launched a lawsuit under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, there has been global praise for the move.
The application relates to the bombardment of, and treatment of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel.
Sooliman, in a statement yesterday called on the African Union (AU) to support the country’s stand at the ICJ.
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“The African Union (AU) should be at the forefront, supporting South Africa’s principled stand at the ICJ, both as a collective but importantly as individual nation states.
“We call on the one billion-strong Africans on our continent to impress on their governments to take the bold, just and correct decision to stand on the right side of history, openly and vociferously, supporting South Africa at the ICJ, for tomorrow we could end up being bullied the way the Palestinians have been subjugated for 75 years whilst the world looked the other way,” Sooliman said.
He continued: “Stand up boldly for an African initiative at the ICJ. This is a proud moment where Africa leads the way against genocide, ethnic cleansing, injustice, oppression, collective punishment, war crimes, crimes against humanity and Western arrogance.
“The dignity of Africa lies in our own hands, where our voices, our buying power, our collective economic and diplomatic strength can take centre stage and earn world respect. This is a once in a lifetime shot at the title to free us from our own mental slavery, to free us from ‘the begging bow’ narrative where we unapologetically take control of our resources to be managed by us in our own interest.
“We, as a continent, have to pursue the path of values and ethics, to be in integrity so that we lead by example and our voices are not hollow hypocritical sounds.”
