Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Ankara has joined the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday evening, Fidan stated that Turkey declared its support for the case on January 3, highlighting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had instructed from day one to engage with legal experts and intervene in the case legally.
Fidan noted that despite strong global public opinion against it, Israel continues its crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza. He questioned what the international community is waiting for as starvation deaths continue in Gaza, mass graves appear in areas from which the Israeli military withdraws, and targeting of women, children, and the elderly persists.
Emphasizing the importance of implementing deterrent measures to prevent further crimes, Fidan affirmed that his country does not accept Israeli efforts to displace Palestinians from their lands. He also addressed countries supporting Israel, warning that “the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza since October 7 could exacerbate other tensions in the region and the world.”
In December, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. This action follows the escalation of violence that began with a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. South Africa’s complaint invokes the 1948 Genocide Convention, which mandates that states prevent and punish acts of genocide. The lawsuit seeks provisional measures from the ICJ, including stopping further hostilities and ensuring humanitarian aid access.
The ICJ responded by imposing provisional measures on January 26, 2024, which are legally binding on Israel. These include preventing and punishing acts that could lead to genocide and ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Court stressed the urgency and potential irreparable harm, emphasizing the need for immediate action to protect the rights covered by the Genocide Convention.
