Spain Joins South Africa's Case Against Israel's 'Genocide' in Gaza at UN Top Court - 2024-06-06

Spain will ask a United Nations court for permission to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, its foreign minister announced on Thursday. Spain is the first European country to take this step after South Africa filed its case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) late last year. South Africa alleged that Israel 's military assault on Gaza has breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. The ICJ has already ordered Israel to ensure 'unimpeded access' to UN-mandated investigators looking into the allegations of genocide, and to do everything it can to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza. 'We take the decision because of the ongoing military operation in Gaza,' Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in Madrid. 'We want peace to return to Gaza and the Middle East, and for that to happen we must all support the court.' Israel has strongly denied the accusation of genocide, insisting that its military actions are aimed at crushing Hamas , the Palestinian militant group that carried out deadly attacks in southern Israel in October 2022. Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 250 more hostage in those surprise attacks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In response, Israel 's air and land strikes have killed 36,000 Palestinians, though the ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Once admitted to the case, Spain would be able to make written submissions and speak at public hearings at the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands. Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya, and the Palestinians have also requested to join the case. The latest move by Spain 's government under Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is part of a broader effort to support peacemaking in Gaza. Spain , Ireland, and Norway recently recognized the state of Palestine in a coordinated initiative to add international pressure on Israel . Sánchez's backing of the Palestinians is generally supported in Spain , where some university students have protested in solidarity with Gaza. However, the diplomatic backlash from Israel has been fierce. Israel i Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Sánchez's government of 'being complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes' by recognizing a Palestinian state. Preliminary hearings have already been held in the genocide case against Israel , but the ICJ is expected to take years to reach a final decision. Albares said Spain 's goal is to add pressure on Israel i Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comply with the court's interim measures and stop the bloodshed in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that has been the site of intense fighting.