Ireland to join South Africa’s ICJ ‘genocide’ case against Israel
The Republic of Ireland intends to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) before the end of the year, its foreign minister said.
Micheal Martin’s comments came as the Irish parliament passed a non-binding motion agreeing that “genocide is being perpetrated before our eyes by Israel in Gaza”.
In December, South Africa brought a case before the ICJ, arguing that the war in Gaza breached the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, an accusation Israel has strongly denied.
Several nations have added their weight to the proceedings, including Spain, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, Chile and Libya.
Ireland said it would file a submission to the court once South Africa had submitted a document supporting its claims, which it did on Monday.
“The government’s decision to intervene in the South African case was based on detailed and rigorous legal analysis,” Martin told lawmakers in the Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament.
“Ireland is a strong supporter of the work of the court and is deeply committed to international law and accountability.”
South Africa announced on Monday that it had filed a so-called memorial with the ICJ claiming “evidence” of a “genocide” committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
