“The warrant signals to Israel, it signals to the supporters of Netanyahu [that] you have moved out of the realm of approval of a very great number of nations” – Professor Emeritus André Thomashausen, University of South Africa

On the 21st of November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Mohammed Deif, a military commander of the Islamist group, Hamas, has also been added to the ICC’s list, even though Israel previously said he was killed in an airstrike in July.

ICC judges say there are “reasonable grounds” that the three men bear "criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

These relate to the on-going conflict in the Gaza Strip, in the Middle East.

But Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the warrants, describing them as “anti-Semitic”.

In a statement, the ICC says the office of its prosecutor received a referral of the situation in the State of Palestine.

It came from South Africa, Comoros, Djibouti and several other nations worldwide.

So, today Alan Kasujja wants to know why South Africa, a country which has long been campaigning to end the war in Gaza, wants senior Hamas and Israeli leaders arrested.

Guests: Zane Dangor, Director General of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Professor Emeritus André Thomashausen of the University of South Africa