Ireland Backs South Africa Genocide case Against Israel

In  what Dublin describes as a “blatant violation” of humanitarian law in Gaza, Ireland has announced it will intervene on South Africa's behalf in the ICJ genocide case against Israel. 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, and is yet to be been published.

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. It is reported that Israel’s military operations have so far resulted in the deaths of more than 32,000 Palestinians. Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin says events in Gaza represent the ‘blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale’.

Michael Martin also said the situation “could not be more stark”. He went on to state “Half the population of Gaza face imminent famine and 100 percent of the population face acute food insecurity. As the UN Secretary-General said as he inspected long lines of blocked relief trucks waiting to enter Gaza during his visit to Rafah at the weekend, ‘It is time to truly flood Gaza with life-saving aid. The choice is clear: surge or starvation.’ I echo his words today,” he added.

Image: Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin