Various Sources
Egypt has announced that it will join South Africa in supporting its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The decision to intervene in the lawsuit comes in response to the escalating severity and scope of Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
In its statement, Egypt called on Israel, as the occupying power, to comply with its obligations and implement the provisional measures issued by the ICJ. These measures require ensuring adequate humanitarian aid access to Gaza and refraining from committing human rights violations against Palestinians.
The ICJ previously issued an interim ruling that found a plausible risk of genocide in the enclave and ordered Israel to take provisional measures to prevent genocidal acts. Egypt’s move adds to the growing international attention on this issue, with Turkey and Colombia also formally requesting to join the case against Israel.
Alon Liel, former director of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, told Al Jazeera the move is an “unbelievable diplomatic blow to Israel”.
“Egypt is the cornerstone of our standing in the Middle East,” he said. The connections that Israel has in the Middle East and North Africa today, including with Jordan, the UAE and Morocco, is all “a result of what Egypt did 40 years ago”.
“With Egypt joining South Africa now in The Hague, it’s a real diplomatic punch. Israel would have to take it very seriously.
“This is what I have been warning about. It’s coming from several directions. Israel has to … listen to the world – not only to the Israeli public opinion asking now for revenge.
“We have to look overall in the wider picture, in the long-term security of Israel, not only in the next few weeks in Gaza.”