A group of 47 South African lawyers, led by attorney Wikus Van Rensburg, is preparing to file a lawsuit against the United States and the United Kingdom, asserting their alleged complicity in Israeli forces' war crimes in Palestine. This move comes shortly after South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for alleged genocide in Gaza.

Van Rensburg, who has been actively advocating for legal action against Israel and its supporters, is collaborating with lawyers from the US and the UK in this initiative. The legal team aims to prosecute those complicit in the alleged crimes in civilian courts.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Van Rensburg emphasized the need to hold the United States accountable for its actions. He expressed the belief that the legal process would be more effective in addressing the alleged crimes committed by Israel and its supporters.

The South African lawyer cited the Iraq War as an example where the US faced no accountability for its actions, but he sees the situation in Palestine as an ideal scenario for the legal process to unfold. Van Rensburg argued that the US is allocating resources that indirectly support Israel's actions, and it is time for them to be held responsible.

Van Rensburg indicated that the South African case against Israel at the ICJ would serve as a guide for their lawsuit against the US and the UK. The outcome of the ICJ trial and the steps taken by the United Nations will influence their legal approach.

If the ICJ rules in favor of South Africa in the case against Israel, Van Rensburg believes that the US may face sanctions even if it rejects the verdict, building a case against the Joe Biden administration.

The legal team recently penned an open letter to the leaders of the US and UK governments, asserting that they cannot evade responsibility for their alleged complicity in Israeli war crimes. The legal team is preparing for the case by establishing contact with law firms in the US and the UK.

This initiative underscores a global effort to address the complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through legal channels, with South African lawyers taking a prominent role in pursuing accountability.

This legal case poses risks, since South Africa still relied for much of its trade on the West, and might face negative consequences for pursuing a hostile diplomatic stance.

But whether or not such repercussions materialise depend on the global balance of forces and the outcomes of the cases, both of which are as yet undetermined.