The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been approached by Colombia, who is seeking to intervene in the case brought against Israel by South Africa for alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. The Colombian government has called on the court to protect the safety and existence of the Palestinian people.
As the highest U.N. court, the ICJ has the authority to allow states to present their views in cases, and other states have expressed interest in intervening in this case. However, only Colombia and Nicaragua have formally requested to do so.
In January, ICJ judges ordered Israel to refrain from any genocidal acts against Palestinians and prevent such acts by its troops. Last week, they instructed Israel to ensure that basic food supplies reach Palestinians in Gaza without delay. Israel maintains that it is targeting Hamas militants and not civilians, rejecting South Africa’s case as an abuse of the genocide convention. Israel’s lawyers have dismissed these accusations and argued their position in court.
