On Friday, Chile officially submitted a declaration of intervention at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the enforcement of the Genocide Convention in the context of the Gaza Strip conflict.
This intervention, made under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, underscores Chile’s stake in how the convention is interpreted in this case.
According to Article 63, any state that is a party to a treaty under judicial review by the ICJ can intervene, binding them to the court’s interpretation of the treaty.
Chile’s declaration highlights its keen interest in the interpretation of crucial provisions of the Genocide Convention, especially given the serious nature of the accusations linked to the Gaza conflict.
The ICJ has invited both South Africa and Israel to submit their observations on Chile’s declaration.
The court’s forthcoming judgment will be binding on both the original parties to the case and on Chile, as per the regulations governing such interventions.
On December 29, 2023, South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel at the ICJ, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention with regards to the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Since then, several countries including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, the State of Palestine, Spain, and Türkiye have joined the case.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified since a Hamas attack last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
According to local health officials, the conflict has resulted in over 41,100 deaths, predominantly among women and children, and injuries to more than 95,100 people.
The Israeli military actions have displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and exacerbated a humanitarian crisis marked by critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
