Ireland has officially filed a declaration to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Court confirmed on Tuesday. The case concerns the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, specifically regarding the Gaza Strip.
The declaration was filed under Article 63 of the ICJ’s Statute, which allows any state party to a convention under judicial consideration to intervene in the case, making the Court’s interpretation of the convention binding on them. This move comes after Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin announced last month that the Irish government had approved joining the case.
South Africa initiated the case in December 2023, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention in its actions towards Palestinians in Gaza. Other countries, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, and Turkiye, have also joined the proceedings.
Since October 2023, Israel’s invasion and bombardment of Gaza have resulted in significant casualties, with nearly 46,000 killed and over 105,000 injured, mostly women and children. The ongoing blockade has worsened the humanitarian crisis, leaving Gaza’s population without adequate food, water, or medicine.
