“These actions raise serious concerns under international law, including the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and civilian protection enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law,” stated South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement.
“South Africa notes with particular concern the implications for nuclear safety due to attacks near nuclear facilities,” DIRCO stated.
The South African government recalled that “preemptive self-defense, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, requires clear evidence of an imminent armed attack, which does not seem to be proven in this case,” urging for a “peaceful resolution of the dispute.”
Israel and Iran have been at war since early Friday when Tel Aviv bombed Iranian military and nuclear facilities, causing at least 78 deaths, including military leaders and scientists, and hundreds of injuries, according to Iranian diplomacy.
The Israeli attacks, carried out by 200 aircraft against a hundred targets, primarily hit Tehran (north) and the Natanz uranium enrichment facility (center).
Iran retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles into Israeli territory, with explosions recorded over the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, killing at least three people and injuring dozens.
