Countries Backing South Africa's Genocide Case Against Israel

Many countries across the world have backed South Africa's most recent action as the catastrophic war on Gaza rages on, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hears the country's complaint of genocide against Israel this week.

In December, South Africa petitioned the ICJ for an urgent order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its attacks on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Welcoming South Africa's application, parties to the Genocide Convention have released official statements expressing their support of the case against Israel, as this is the first time Israel is slated to appear before the ICJ for genocide accusation, in a step that many call 'historical.'

Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi confirmed that Jordan supports the lawsuit filed against Israel on charges of genocide and violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide.

Among these states, there is Bangladesh, which released a statement saying that "we also welcome the application filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice against Israel under the 1948 Genocide Convention and look forward to the upcoming hearing for the provisional measures."

Malaysia also called South Africa's application against Israel a 'timely and tangible step. "Malaysia welcomes the decision by South Africa to institute proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice concerning violations by Israel of its obligations under the Genocide Convention," it said in a statement.

In his remarks at UNGA, a representative of Pakistan said: "Pakistan welcomes South Africa's initiative to bring Israel's transgressions under the Genocide Convention to the International Court of Justice."

Similarly, the Spokesperson of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli, said that Turkey welcomes the application and hopes the process will be completed soon.

"We welcome the application filed by the Republic of South Africa to the International Court of Justice regarding Israel’s violation of its obligations under the 1948 "Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," Keçeli said.

"Israel's massacre of more than 22 thousand Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the majority of whom were women and children, for nearly three months must not go unpunished and the perpetrators must be held accountable under international law," he added.