On Tuesday, the Belgian government submitted the so-called declaration of intervention in these proceedings. He did so pursuant to Art. 63 of the ICJ Statute, which allows states that are parties to a given convention to present their own interpretation of its provisions if they are the subject of a dispute before the Court. Belgium is a party to the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
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What accusations does South Africa bring against Israel?
What does Belgium's intervention in the proceedings mean?
What other countries have joined the case against Israel?
How long can you wait for the final judgment of the ICJ?
Belgium joins proceedings against Israel
According to the ICJ statement, Belgium is focusing on the interpretation of Articles I-VI of the Convention, in particular on the definition of genocide and the issue of the intention to commit this crime, which is crucial for its legal classification.
The intervention does not mean that Belgium becomes a party to the dispute between South Africa and Israel. Its purpose is to present its own legal position on the interpretation of the provisions of the convention; if included in the judgment, it will also be binding on Belgium.
In a request submitted in 2023, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the military operation against the Hamas terrorist organization. Israel argued that its actions were an act of self-defense and that such accusations were a gross distortion of history.
In January 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to apply interim measures aimed at preventing possible acts of genocide and ensuring humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip. However, we may have to wait a few more years for the final verdict in the case.
Spain, Ireland, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Türkiye had previously joined the cause.
