MBABANE:Belgium has formally joined the case launched by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, Aljazeera reported.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ICJ – The Hague-based highest court of the United Nations said Belgium had filed a declaration of intervention in the case.
Other countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkiye, have already joined the proceedings.
South Africa brought the case in December 2023, arguing that Israel’s war in Gaza violates the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Israel has rejected the allegations and criticised the case.
But while a final ruling could take years, the ICJ issued provisional measures in January 2024 ordering Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
The court’s orders are legally binding although it has no direct mechanism to enforce them.
The ICJ also said Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and its policies amount to annexation.
Israel has continued its assaults in Gaza and the occupied West Bank despite the rulings and growing international criticism while advancing plans to seize large parts of Palestinian territory.
Judges arrive for a session of the International Court of Justice in The Hague [File: Piroschka van de Wouw via Aljazeera).