ISTANBUL: Turkey on Wednesday officially joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking to address allegations of genocide related to Israel’s military actions against Palestinians in Gaza.
The announcement was made as a Turkish parliamentary delegation, accompanied by the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands, filed a “declaration of intervention” at the ICJ headquarters in The Hague.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli emphasized the significance of the case, stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that it is crucial to ensure that crimes committed by Israel are addressed and do not go unpunished.
“The case brought before the ICJ is extremely important to guarantee that the crimes committed by Israel do not remain unpunished,” Keceli said.
South Africa initiated the case in December 2023, accusing Israel of violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention with its Gaza offensive.
The case has garnered international attention, with several other countries joining South Africa’s suit. Colombia, Libya, Spain, and Mexico have also become parties to the proceedings. The ICJ has previously issued orders related to the case, including a January 26 ruling that required Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing nearly 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
In June, the ICJ further directed Israel to allow United Nations investigators access to examine the allegations of genocide. Despite the ICJ’s rulings being legally binding, the court lacks mechanisms for enforcement, which may limit the impact of its decisions.
