South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor announced that her country is about to submit a petition to the International Court of Justice demanding that Israel be classified as an apartheid state.

The newspaper News24 quoted the minister as saying: "South Africa and Palestine are currently working on drafting procedures to bring the Palestinian case to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, to declare Israel an apartheid state."

Earlier, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel's practices in Palestine as war crimes.

On Tuesday, the South African parliament also voted on a non-binding resolution to close the Israeli embassy in the country and sever diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv until Israel agrees to a ceasefire and negotiations.

With the war in Gaza entering its 49th day, the death toll from Israeli bombing of the sector has exceeded 14,854, including more than 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women.

On the Israeli side, more than 1,200 people have been killed, over 5,000 injured, along with the death of 392 Israeli soldiers.