Spain has applied to the International Court of Justice to join South Africa’s case against Israel over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip, the court was told on Friday.
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“Spain, relying on Article 63 of the statute of the court, filed with the registry of the court an application to join the case regarding the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel),” a press release issued by the court UN says.
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It is noted that Spain, exercising the right to intervene in the proceedings provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 63, relies on its status as a party to the genocide convention.
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In its statement, Spain notes that the genocide convention is the most important instrument of international law to prevent and punish genocide.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague held a hearing on May 16-17 on South Africa’s request for additional measures against Israel over its operation in Rafah. The court on May 24 ordered Israel to end its military operation in Rafah and take steps to ensure access to Gaza for missions investigating allegations of genocide.
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On May 10, South Africa appealed to the International Court of Justice with an urgent request to take additional measures against Israel because of the situation in Rafah due to “changed circumstances and new facts,” the applicant also asked to adjust the measures already imposed by the court on January 26. The authority then ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide in the Gaza Strip, punish calls for genocide against Palestinians, ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to residents of the area, and ensure the preservation of evidence related to the accusations of committing acts against the Palestinian people described in convention on genocide. At the same time, the UN court did not oblige Israel to stop its military operation in the Gaza Strip, which South Africa asked for in its lawsuit.
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On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed a claim against Israel under the genocide convention at the International Court of Justice in The Hague over the situation in the Gaza Strip, calling on the court to take provisional measures against the Israeli authorities. South Africa pointed out that Israel’s actions against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip constitute a “violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention.”
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According to the African country’s statement, “Israel’s actions and inactions… are in the nature of genocide, as they are committed with the specific intent… to destroy the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group.”
