Middle-East

Gaza war: Egypt to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at ICJ

Displaced Palestinians prepare to evacuate a tent camp after Israeli forces launched a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah, amid ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, on May 10, 2024. (Photo: Hussam Al Masri/Reuters)

By Hanifa Adan | Sunday, May 12, 2024

Egypt's Foreign Affairs ministry attributed the decision to the escalating severity and scope of Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt has formally announced its intention to support South Africa in its genocide case against Israel, amid the war in Gaza, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In a statement on Sunday, Egypt's Foreign Affairs ministry attributed the decision to the escalating severity and scope of Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, including deliberate targeting, infrastructure destruction, forced displacement, and the creation of dire living conditions.

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"These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949," the ministry said.

Egypt called on Israel, as the occupying power, to adhere to its obligations, including implementing interim measures set by the ICJ to ensure adequate access to humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza and refraining from further violations.

Further, Egypt reiterated its appeal to the UN Security Council (UNSC) and influential international parties to take immediate action to halt the violations in Gaza and military operations in Rafah, while providing necessary protection for Palestinian civilians.

In the ICJ case, South Africa accuses Israel of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide Convention during its military campaign in Gaza.

Despite Israel's dismissal of the proceedings, the court has issued provisional measures, with South Africa seeking additional safeguards for the Palestinian Rafah population.

South Africa's legal proceedings began last December when it accused Israel of violating the UN Genocide Convention, which led to the ICJ ordering Israel to adhere to six provisional measures in January.

Despite this, a request by South Africa to pressure Israel to halt its offensive against Rafah was rejected in mid-February.

In response, South Africa filed a third request in March, accusing Israel of violating previous orders and urging the court to order an Israeli withdrawal from Rafah, as well as allow free access to Gaza for UN officials, humanitarian organisations, and journalists.

On the same day Egypt announced its intervention, South Africa requested additional provisional measures to protect the Palestinian Rafah population in the face of Israeli attacks in the area.

Additionally, Libya declared its support for South Africa's case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt has consistently warned of the dire consequences of Israeli military incursions into Palestinian Rafah, where a significant portion of the displaced Palestinian population, numbering around 1.5 million, currently resides.