Belgium has announced that it will intervene in the lawsuit that the Republic of South Africa has brought against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide.
According to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium has decided to submit its own interpretation of Article 2 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide from 1948, which defines the crime of genocide.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated that Belgium wants to participate in this case before the ICJ.
“On February 7, the International Court of Justice sent a letter to the signatory states of the 1948 Convention, including Belgium, stating that it could become involved in the interpretation of the Convention in the context of this case. Belgium wishes to participate in this and share its own interpretation of Article 2 of the Convention. Here “It is not about being for or against one side or the other. It is necessary to strengthen the universality of international agreements,” said Lahbib.
Sources said that the content and date have not yet been determined, and the process could take months.
On January 26, following a genocide lawsuit filed by the Republic of South Africa, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must refrain from any actions related to the killing, attacks and destruction of the residents of the Gaza Strip and take all measures to prevent the genocide.
Attacks, however, continue unabated, and the delivery of aid remains insufficient to address the humanitarian disaster.
Since October 7 last year, at least 31,112 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, AA writes.
