The Maldives have announced that it has formally submitted a declaration of intervention to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking to join the genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel for its actions in the Gaza Strip.
President Mohamed Muizzu confirmed the move on social media platform X, citing Article 63 of the ICJ Statute. The case pertains to alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by Israel in Gaza.
“Israel must be held accountable for its unlawful acts in Gaza. The rule of law must be upheld, and Israel must cease its genocidal acts against the Palestinian people,” Muizzu said. He reiterated the Maldives’ unwavering support for peace, justice, and the Palestinian cause, advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
South Africa filed the case at The Hague-based tribunal in late 2023, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention amidst ongoing bombardments in Gaza. In May, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its offensive in the southern city of Rafah, marking the third instance in which the court has issued orders aimed at curbing the violence and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where casualties have exceeded 41,600.
Other countries that have joined the case include Türkiye, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya, Chile, Cuba and Colombia, with public hearings having commenced in January.