Pandor calls for Netanyahu to be tried at ICC for war crimes

She has stressed the necessity for an urgent solution but implored the International Criminal Court to act.

"In its attacks on and kidnapping of innocent civilians, Hamas has also violated international law. 

"However, the murder of children, women and the aged by Israel is an act that should've resulted in the criminal court issuing an immediate arrest warrant for key decision makers including (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Mr Netanyahu who is responsible for violations of international crimes law."

Pandor was delivering her statement during a debate on the Israel-Hamas war in Parliament on Tuesday, a day after South Africa recalled its ambassadors to Tel Aviv. 

The DA's Emma Powell said civilian safety should be prioritised. 

"We call on Israel to ensure that defensive action is carried out within the confines of international law. The DA further calls for the creation of safe zones and humanitarian pause in the fighting to ensure the flow of increase into Gaza and to allow more access to civilians guaranteed."

The IFP's Mkhuleko Hlengwa has meanwhile criticised the government's withdrawal of its ambassadors from Israel.

"We want to caution the South African government that isolation in the time of war is not the solution. Recalling the ambassadors merely amount to regressive diplomacy which complicates the negotiations. 

"If South Africa is truly to be a trusted mediator, committed to reaching a negotiated peace, all parties in the conflict must be treated the same way. We echo the call to the United Nations for both sides to declare an immediate cease-fire and to return to the negotiation table."

Gaza has been under Israeli bombardment since Hamas carried out an attack last month - killing 1,400 people - mainly civilians.

The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza says more than 10,300 people, many of them children, have been killed in the Palestinian territory.

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