US EditionBelgium joins South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ
Belgium invoked its right under Article 63 to join South Africa's ICJ case, focusing on the Genocide Convention's 'specific intent' definition in Article II, the court said.
- On Tuesday, Belgium filed a declaration under Article 63 to intervene at the International Court of Justice in South Africa's case against Israel.
- South Africa filed the case earlier this year, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention, with Belgium's intervention focusing on Article II's `specific intent`.
- Several countries have joined, including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkiye, while Belgium recognised Palestine in September and nearly 80 percent of UN member states now do.
- The ICJ has invited South Africa and Israel to submit written observations under Article 83, noting its January 2024 provisional measures are binding but unenforceable.
- Israel responded by saying the allegations are `baseless` and `politically motivated`, the United States rejected the merits, and South African leaders vowed the US-backed peace deal `will have no bearing`.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Belgium applies to intervene in ICJ genocide case against Israel
Belgium filed Tuesday a declaration of intervention to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case against Israel in relation to the situation in the Gaza Strip. In the declaration, Belgium expressed its understanding of the term “genocidal intent” contained in the Genocide Convention. Citing a previous ICJ provisional measure order in the case of the Gambia v. Myanmar, it argued that the existence of an armed conflict does not bar the …
South Africa receives support from EU countries in the Hague process. Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey are already involved.
Belgium joins South Africa's ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza
By filing a declaration of intervention in the ongoing proceedings, Belgium joined a growing list of countries – including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – that have intervened in the legal action
A few months after recognizing the State of Palestine, Belgium joined the proceedings brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accused the Hebrew State of genocide, announced the ICJ on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
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