Spain has asked to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ), AP News reports.
South Africa filed a lawsuit with the ICJ late last year alleging that Israel was violating the genocide convention in a military attack that destroyed large parts of Gaza.
The court ordered Israel to immediately halt the military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but did not demand a ceasefire in the enclave. Israel has not complied with that demand and shows no sign of doing so. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in Madrid:
“We take the decision because of the ongoing military operation in Gaza. We want peace to return to Gaza and the Middle East, and for that to happen we must all support the court.”
Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya and the Palestinians are waiting for the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, to grant their requests to join the case.
Israel denies it is committing genocide in its military operation to crush Hamas, triggered by its deadly attacks in southern Israel on October 7. The surprise Hamas attacks killed 1,200 people and took another 250 hostages. Israeli air and ground attacks have killed 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
By being admitted to the case, Spain will be able to file written submissions and speak at public hearings. Spain’s request is the latest move by the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government to support peace efforts in Gaza.
World recognition of Palestine
Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised the Palestinian state on May 28 in a coordinated effort by the three Western European countries. Slovenia, a member of the European Union, along with Spain and Ireland, followed suit and recognised the Palestinian State this week.
More than 140 countries – more than two-thirds of UN members – have recognised a Palestinian state, but none of the major Western powers, including the US, have done so.
While Sanchez condemned Hamas attacks and joined demands for the return of remaining Israeli hostages, he did not shy away from a diplomatic response from Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said that by recognising a Palestinian state, Sánchez’s government was “complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes.”
Sánchez’s support for the Palestinians is generally backed up in Spain, where some university students have followed their American counterparts in holding campus protests. On Sunday, Spaniards will vote in European Parliament elections.
