In the biggest indication of Dublin’s concern over Israeli actions in Gaza since October 7, Ireland announced on Wednesday that it will intervene in South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), popularly known as the World Court, should determine whether or not genocide is occurring, said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, but made it clear when he announced the move that what is happening in Gaza and the attack by Hamas on October 7 “represent the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale.”
“The taking of hostages. The purposeful withholding of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The targeting of civilians and of civilian infrastructure. The indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The use of civilian objects for military purposes. The collective punishment of an entire population. The list goes on. It has to stop. The view of the international community is clear. Enough is enough,” Martin said in a statement.
After South Africa accused Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza, the ICJ, issued an order in January directing Israel to desist from any actions that might be considered violations of the Genocide Convention and to guarantee that its troops do not commit any genocidal acts against Palestinians.
The claim was deemed unfounded by Israel and its Western supporters. It may take years for the International Court of Justice to rule in South Africa’s case.
Having long supported Palestinian rights, Ireland last week joined Malta, Spain, and Slovenia in recognizing the statehood that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have established.
