CAIRO — Egypt announced on Sunday its decision to join a genocide lawsuit initiated by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), relating to the ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, cited the "escalating severity and scope of the Israeli assaults against Palestinian civilians in Gaza," including the systematic targeting of civilians and infrastructure, as key reasons for its involvement.
The ministry emphasized that these actions represent "a flagrant violation of international law, humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949," which outlines the protection of civilians during wartime.
Egypt has called for Israel to adhere to its obligations under international law and to implement the interim measures mandated by the ICJ, aimed at ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Additionally, Egypt urged the UN Security Council and other stakeholders to intervene urgently to establish a cease-fire in Gaza, halt military operations in Rafah, and provide protection for Palestinian civilians.
The conflict, which intensified following a Hamas attack on October 7 that resulted in nearly 1,200 casualties, has seen more than 35,000 Palestinians killed and over 76,600 injured due to the Israeli onslaught. Despite a cease-fire proposal facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, which Hamas accepted, Israel has continued its operations in Rafah, citing unmet demands related to the release of hostages and other war objectives.
The violence has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis marked by shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. In January, the ICJ issued an interim ruling stating it is "plausible" that Tel Aviv is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Israel to cease such actions and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the civilians.
In a recent move, South Africa requested the ICJ to compel Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of broader emergency measures concerning the conflict. — Agencies
