People sit inside the International Court of Justice on the day of the trial to hear a request for emergency measures by South Africa, who asked the court to order Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza and to desist from what South Africa says are genocidal acts committed against Palestinians during the war with Hamas in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 11, 2024.
The Palestinians plan to join South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel currently before the International Court of Justice . The Palestinian Foreign Ministry in Ramallah has applied to join the case, the court announced in The Hague on Monday evening. The ministry requested this on behalf of Palestine, which the United Nations has not recognised as a state, but has observer status at the UN.If it were approved, the Palestinian authorities would be allowed to participate in the proceedings.South Africa filed a complaint against Israel with the highest court of the United Nations at the end of 2023, accusing the state of violating the Genocide Convention due to its attacks on the Gaza Strip.
In three decisions to date, the court has obliged Israel to take immediate measures to protect civilians.Israel has strictly rejected the accusations and invoked its right to self-defense following the terrorist attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and other groups on Oct. 7.