South Africa on Friday welcomed the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel must halt its military operations in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and withdraw from the city.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) called the decision a confirmation of the principles of justice, human rights and the rule of law.
However, in an echo of the words of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, "We will not be completely free until the people of Palestine are free."
With its decision, the highest court of the United Nations partially complied with demands made by South Africa in an urgent appeal.
The ICJ called on Israel to immediately end the operations that are officially directed at Hamas militants but are also inflicting huge suffering on thousands of Palestinian civilians caught in the city.
According to the judges, the humanitarian situation in Rafah is now "disastrous." Further measures are necessary to prevent further harm to the civilian population, they said.
"This is de facto a call for a ceasefire," said Zane Dangor, head of the International Relations Department at the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, while ICJ orders are legally binding, the court has no direct means of enforcing them.