Ireland joins SA's genocide case against Israel
Ireland joins at least ten nations which have also asked the International Court of Justice to join it to South Africa's case to find Israel in contravention of the Rome Statute on genocide.
This general view shows the logo of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on 12 January 2024, prior to the hearing of the genocide case against Israel, brought by South Africa. Picture: Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP
CAPE TOWN - Ireland is the latest country to back South Africa's genocide case against Israel.
In an intervention declaration filed with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Ireland says it considers the first five articles of the Genocide Convention to be in question.
Ireland has been an outspoken critic of the situation in Gaza since Israel retaliated on the occupied territory for the Hamas-led deaths of over 1,000 people in Israel in October 2023.
Ireland joins at least ten nations which have also asked the International Court of Justice to join it to South Africa's case to find Israel in contravention of the Rome Statute on genocide.
It had already indicated support for the case in March last year.
In its 27-page declaration filed with the world’s highest court, Ireland focused on the legal definition of genocide and said the intent to destroy a target population whether in whole or in part might be inferred from Israel's actions in Gaza.
"The crime may also be committed where a perpetrator, regardless of his or her purpose, knows (or should know) that the natural and probable consequence of these acts is either to destroy or contribute to the destruction of the protected group … and proceeds regardless."
In December, Israel closed its embassy in Ireland, citing extreme anti-Israel policies.
South Africa and Israel have been invited to furnish written observations on Ireland's declaration of intervention.