Egypt Announces Support for South Africa’s Lawsuit Against Israel at ICJ

Egypt declared its intention today, through a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to formally intervene in support of the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice. 

The lawsuit addresses Israel's alleged violations of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt highlighted the increasing severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including systematic practices such as direct targeting of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure. 

These actions have forced Palestinians to flee and be displaced from their lands, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has rendered living conditions in Gaza untenable, in stark violation of international law and humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 regarding the protection of civilians in times of war.

The statement by the Egyptian government calls for Israel, as the occupying power, to adhere to its obligations and comply with the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice. 

These measures demand the sufficient facilitation of humanitarian and relief aid to meet the needs of the Palestinians in Gaza, and they mandate that Israeli forces refrain from committing any violations against the Palestinian people, who are entitled to protection under the genocide convention.

Egypt also reiterated its call for the United Nations Security Council and influential international parties to urgently act to cease fire in the Gaza Strip and halt military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah, as well as to provide necessary protection for Palestinian civilians.