WATCH | Minister Pandor publicly outlines reasons for Israel genocide case

CAPE TOWN - Government took a pragmatic multilateral approach in its genocide case against Israel at the World Court.

That's according to International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor.

She was speaking at a morning service at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town on Sunday.

READ: ICJ genocide decision | Impact of the verdict on South Africa

Pandor says cabinet discussed the matter and decided approaching the Hague was the best course of action.

"No matter the horror we all share about what Hamas did and we must be horrified and call for the release of the hostages," she said.

But we should recall that Palestinians are occupied, they're oppressed, they do not enjoy the rights we do.

"In fact, their condition -- as I've been told by many people who have been there --  is very similar to the experiences of black people under apartheid in South Africa."