Ireland to intervene on South Africa’s behalf in ICJ genocide case against Israel

Ireland will intervene in an International Court of Justice case filed by South Africa against Israel alleging genocide in Gaza, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheál Martin said Wednesday.

“Analysis and consultation has now concluded. Ireland will be intervening,” Martin said. “I want to reiterate clearly what we witnessed on October 7 in Israel, and what we are currently seeing in Gaza, constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a massive scale.”

In late December 2023 South Africa filed a suit against Israel at the ICJ, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza. The court issued provisional measures Jan. 26 requiring Israel to report back within a month; that report was submitted Feb. 26, although it hasn’t been published.

The intervention will take some months to materialize. Ireland’s statement indicates it will file a declaration to the ICJ once South Africa submits its “memorial” — the written statement of its arguments.

Ireland’s announcement comes as Israel prepares to launch a military operation in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, where 1.4 million of Palestinian refugees from the north have gathered. According to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of more than 32,000 Palestinians.

Previously, Ireland, along with more than 30 other nations, intervened on behalf of Ukraine in its ICJ case against Russia over alleged genocide during the February 2022 invasion.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.

Denis Leven is hosted at POLITICO under the EU-funded EU4FreeMedia residency program.