The intervention will take some months to materialize. Ireland’s statement indicates it will file a declaration to the ICJ once South Africa submits its “memorial” — the written statement of its arguments.
Ireland’s announcement comes as Israel prepares to launch a military operation in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, where 1.4 million of Palestinian refugees from the north have gathered. According to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of more than 32,000 Palestinians.
Previously, Ireland, along with more than 30 other nations, intervened on behalf of Ukraine in its ICJ case against Russia over alleged genocide during the February 2022 invasion.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.
Denis Leven is hosted at POLITICO under the EU-funded EU4FreeMedia residency program.
