The case accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its war against Gaza.
Spain says it will join South Africa’s complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its war against the gang from Gaza.
Making the announcement on Thursday, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said: “We have taken this decision in light of the continued military operation in Gaza. »
“We also observe with enormous concern the regional extension of the conflict,” he said at a press conference.
Spain made the decision not only to “let peace return to Gaza and the Middle East” but also because of its commitment to international law, Albares said.
“Our only goal is to end the war and move forward on the path to implementing the two-state solution,” Albares said, a week after Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized the State of Palestine.
This decision by the three countries triggered Israeli fury, which accused them of “rewarding terrorism” and withdrew its ambassadors.
South Africa filed a complaint against Israel in late December, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in October, has surpassed 36,500, according to health authorities in the besieged and bombed territory.
Israel launched the assault after the Palestinian group Hamas carried out an attack on southern Israel from Gaza, killing around 1,140 people, according to an Tel Aviv Tribune tally based on Israeli statistics.
It will likely be years before the ICJ rules on the merits of the genocide case. Even if its decisions are binding and final, the highest court of the UN has no means of enforcing them.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it is acting in accordance with international law in Gaza. He called the genocide case baseless and accused South Africa of acting as “the legal arm of Hamas.”
Spain will now join several countries, including Colombia, Egypt and Turkey, in formally requesting to join the case against Israel.