Spain seeks to join South Africa in accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at top UN court

Spain has become the first European country to request permission from the United Nations court to join South Africa’s case against Israel for alleged genocide in Gaza. South Africa initiated the case with the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of breaching the genocide convention. The court has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. This move by Spain comes as part of efforts to support peace in the Middle East.

Israel denies accusations of committing genocide in its military operation against Hamas, sparked by deadly attacks in southern Israel. Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages in these attacks. Israel’s air and land strikes have resulted in the deaths of 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in these figures. Despite the accusations, Israel has not complied with the court’s order to halt its offensive in Rafah.

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, stated that the decision to join the case was made due to the ongoing military operation in Gaza. He emphasized the importance of supporting the court in order to restore peace to the region. Several other countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya, and the Palestinians, are waiting for approval to join the case. Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recently recognized a Palestinian state, showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

The move to recognize a Palestinian state has faced criticism from Israel, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz accusing Spain of complicity in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes. Despite backlash, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has continued to support the Palestinians and call for the return of Israeli hostages. Spain’s decision to join the case against Israel is seen as a further step in supporting peace efforts in the region.

The International Court of Justice has held preliminary hearings in the case against Israel, but a final decision is expected to take years. Spain’s request to join the case will allow the country to present written submissions and speak at public hearings. The government emphasizes the importance of pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comply with the court’s interim measures to stop the bloodshed in Rafah.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 1 million people fleeing Rafah since the start of the operation. Displaced families have been forced into new tent camps or crowded into schools and homes. The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with no clear end in sight. Spain’s involvement in the case against Israel is seen as a step towards holding accountable those responsible for the violence and working towards a lasting peace in the region.