Egypt has declared its intention to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in response to the escalating violence in Gaza.
The Egyptian foreign ministry explained this decision highlights the increasing severity of Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, which they describe as systematic practices leading to displacement and a dire humanitarian crisis.
This announcement aligns Egypt with other nations like Turkey and Colombia, which have previously shown interest in joining South Africa’s legal action. In January, South Africa petitioned the World Court to recognize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and demanded a halt to Israel’s military operations there. The ICJ responded by instructing Israel to avoid actions that could be construed as genocidal and to ensure that its military does not commit such acts against Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, in March, the court unanimously directed Israel to guarantee the timely delivery of essential food supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.
The timing of Egypt’s announcement follows recent developments where Israel moved forces into eastern Rafah, near the Egyptian border, and took control of a key crossing point, crucial for delivering aid to Gaza. Egyptian media reported that Egypt has refused to coordinate with Israel on aid delivery through the Rafah crossing due to what it calls “unacceptable escalation.”
Furthermore, Egypt has urged Israel to comply with international obligations to ensure the delivery of aid and to prevent any violations against Palestinians. The Egyptian government is also appealing to the UN Security Council and influential nations to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and stop military actions in Rafah, as detailed in the foreign ministry’s statement.
