More Countries Join South Africa’s Genocide Case against Israel at ICJ

GOOBJOOG NEWS | THE HAGUE: More countries have joined proceedings at the International Court of Justice over South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, adding to growing international involvement in the landmark legal dispute over Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war.

Mexico, Ireland and Belgium are among the states that have formally filed declarations of intervention in the case, although their submissions were made at different stages of the proceedings.

South Africa brought the case against Israel in December 2023, accusing it of violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention through acts and omissions in its military campaign in Gaza.

Israel has rejected the allegations, saying the case misrepresents its military operations and that its campaign is directed against Hamas rather than Palestinians as a group.

The growing number of interventions reflects wider international interest in how the Genocide Convention applies to the conflict and could add to the legal arguments before the court.

Mexico filed its declaration of intervention in May 2024, followed by Ireland in January 2025 and Belgium in December 2025.

Several other countries submitted declarations in 2026. Paraguay filed in March, followed by the Netherlands and Iceland, while Namibia, the United States, Hungary and Fiji also filed declarations that month.

Despite the growing number of states involved, the South Africa-Israel case remains at the written-submissions stage and a final judgment is not expected soon.

In May 2026, the ICJ set November 2027 as the deadline for South Africa to respond to Israel’s written defence. Israel will then have until May 2029 to submit its rejoinder.

The court has already issued a series of provisional measures during the proceedings, ordering steps intended to protect Palestinians in Gaza and preserve rights under the Genocide Convention while the case continues.

Those measures do not constitute a final ruling on whether genocide has occurred. The court’s eventual judgment will determine whether Israel violated its obligations under the convention.

The case is separate from proceedings before the International Criminal Court, which investigates and prosecutes individuals for alleged international crimes. The ICJ, by contrast, settles disputes between states and rules on their obligations under international law.

The legal battle is unfolding against the backdrop of the devastating Gaza conflict, which began after Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023. The war has generated widespread international concern over civilian deaths, displacement and humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory.

Israel maintains that it is acting in self-defence against Hamas and has repeatedly rejected allegations that its conduct amounts to genocide.

Additional reporting by agencies