In a significant show of solidarity, Turkey has joined Malaysia and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in supporting South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, recently initiated at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Last week, South Africa urgently filed a case against Israel at the ICJ, accusing the state of committing crimes of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Turkey, in an official statement from its foreign affairs department on Wednesday, emphasised that the killing of more than 22,000 Palestinians must not go unpunished. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli, welcomed South Africa’s application, calling for accountability under international law and expressing hope for prompt action by the ICJ to halt Israel’s attacks.
Similarly, Malaysia, as a fellow state party to the United Nations’ genocide convention, welcomed South Africa’s legal action and urged Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law. Indonesia, a staunch supporter of Palestine, echoed its support for South Africa’s move to bring Israel before the ICJ, emphasising the need for the court to act decisively against what they term genocide.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also backed South Africa’s application against Israel, condemning the indiscriminate targeting by Israel and characterising it as mass genocide. The OIC called upon the ICJ to respond urgently and take measures to stop the alleged mass genocide by the Israeli Defence Forces.
The ICJ has scheduled South Africa’s application to be heard next week, Thursday and Friday. In its request, South Africa seeks provisional measures to protect the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention and ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations.
Israel has confirmed its appearance before the ICJ to contest South Africa’s accusation, with a government spokesperson accusing South Africa of providing political and legal cover to Hamas’ attacks on Israel. The legal team representing South Africa at the ICJ includes prominent figures such as John Dugard, Max du Plessis, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Adila Hassim, Sarah Pudifin-Jones, Lerato Zikalala, and Tshidiso Ramogale.
The ICJ, known as the World Court, serves as the United Nations’ venue for resolving disputes between states. The death toll in Gaza has reached over 22,185 people, with a majority being women and children, and 57,000 reported injuries.