‘Might is right’ would rule world without ICJ – South Africa

Pretoria has insisted that all conflicts deserve equal concern, as the world debates justice in Gaza

Undermining the authority of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would bring the world dangerously close to a system where power overrides law, South African Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri has told RT. 

“Without the ICJ, which is the primary judicial organ of the UN, we essentially would be living in a world where might is right,” Phiri said.

His comments came amid South Africa’s case before the ICJ, accusing Tel Aviv of committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied the allegations. More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, and the entire population has been displaced.

Phiri reiterated South Africa’s support for a two-state solution and the full realization of Palestinian self-determination, stressing that a just and inclusive peace process must reflect the voices of all Palestinians. “A 1967-border state… is what we believe a just solution in the end,” he said.

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Israel and Hamas agreed to a tentative ceasefire in early October under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.

Phiri also called for a balanced global response to humanitarian crises, urging the international community to not overlook other conflicts across Africa, such as the war in Sudan or violence in Nigeria. “These are incredibly important issues,” he said.

Sudan has been engulfed in fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, as both sides compete for power amid a stalled transition to civilian rule. In Nigeria, kidnappings by criminal and terrorist groups remain widespread, with victims often held for ransom. 

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“Each conflict brings out its own unique dynamics and is of equal concern — and it should be of equal attention to the world,” he concluded.