Egypt to join genocide case against Israel at top UN court

CAIRO (AA) – Egypt said Sunday it will join a genocide lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the move comes “in light of the escalating severity and scope of the Israeli assaults against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the systematic targeting of civilians and destruction of infrastructure in the strip.”

“These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 regarding the protection of civilians during wartime,” the ministry said.

Egypt called on Israel, the occupying power, to comply with its obligations and implement interim measures ordered by the ICJ to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

It also demanded that the UN Security Council and stakeholders urgently intervene to reach a cease-fire in Gaza, halt military operations in Rafah and provide protection to Palestinians.

Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza since a Hamas attack last Oct. 7 in which 1,139 people died.

Last week, Palestinian resistance group Hamas accepted a proposal drawn by Egypt and Qatar for a cease-fire in Gaza.

But Israel said the truce offer accepted by Hamas did not meet its key demands and decided to push ahead with an operation in Rafah, home to more than 1.5 million displaced people.

An interim ruling by The Hague-based court in January said it is “plausible” that Tel Aviv is committing genocide in Gaza, ordering it to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

South Africa on Friday asked the ICJ to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of additional emergency measures over the war.