EBN-South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool , who was expelled from the United States and declared persona non grata, affirmed on Sunday that his country will not bow to pressure from the United States or any other party to withdraw its lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice, in which South Africa accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Rasoul’s remarks came upon his return home earlier today, as hundreds of his supporters gathered at Cape Town International Airport, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of him and the Palestinian cause, according to a report by Africa News.
As we stand here, the bombing continues in Gaza , the shooting has not stopped, and if it weren’t for South Africa’s presence in the International Court of Justice, Israel would not have been exposed, and there would be no hope for the Palestinians,” Rasool told the crowds who greeted him.
The South African ambassador added, “We cannot sacrifice the Palestinians, but at the same time, we will not abandon our relationship with the United States. We must fight for it, but while preserving our dignity.”
Rasoul’s expulsion came after the US president issued an executive order cutting off all aid to South Africa. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also declared Rasoul persona non grata on Twitter on March 14, accusing him of “hating the US and Trump.”
Rasool stressed the need to repair relations with Washington despite the disagreements, saying, “We are not here to say that we are against America. We are not calling on you to abandon our interests with the United States, but we cannot compromise our principles.”
The Trump administration linked its decision to remarks Rasool made during a think tank in South Africa, in which he spoke about demographic shifts in the United States, describing the rise of populist movements such as “Make America Great Again” as “a reaction to racial and social changes in the country.”
It’s worth noting that South Africa was the first country in the world to file a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza, which led to an escalation of diplomatic tensions between Pretoria and Washington
