Belgium joins South Africa's genocide case against Israel

Belgium on Tuesday joined South Africa in a case brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, said in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention.

Several countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Türkiye have already joined the case.

In December 2023, South Africa brought a case to the United Nations' highest court in The Hague, stating that Israel's deadly attacks on Gaza breached the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

ICJ censures Israel

In rulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine.

These orders are legally binding, but the court has no concrete means to enforce them.

Israel has criticised the proceedings and rejected the accusations.

Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed at least 70,369 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry. The campaign has also displaced the majority of the 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory.

Belgium was among several countries to recognise the State of Palestine in September, a status acknowledged by nearly 80% of UN members.