Which Countries Want to Join in Suing Israel Regarding the Genocide Case at the ICJ?

GAZA – Spain said it would join the case filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accused Israel violated its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its war in the Gaza Strip.

Making the announcement on Thursday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said, “We made this decision in light of the continuing military operations in Gaza.”

Together Against Israel

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South Africa filed its case against Israel in December, accusing it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The death toll from Israel’s war there, which began in October, has surpassed 36,500, according to health officials in the besieged and bombarded region.

South Africa’s case submitted to the UN tribunal in The Hague argues that Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention, which was adopted after the Holocaust and obliges all states to prevent a repeat of similar crimes. Cases like this take years to resolve.

Which countries have joined this case?

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All countries that signed the 1948 Genocide Convention are obliged not to commit genocide and also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as “acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”.

According to Al Jazeera, countries can intervene in a case before the ICJ if they have legal interests that could be affected by the decision in the case. They can apply to the court to be allowed to intervene, which the court can then decide.

The countries that have joined or expressed their intention to join the South African genocide case against Israel are:

1. South Africa: filed case on 29 December

2. Nicaragua: apply to join on February 8

3. Belgium: expressed intention to join on March 11