Belgium has formally joined a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ, the United Nations’ highest judicial body based in The Hague, confirmed that Belgium filed a declaration of intervention to participate in the proceedings. While Belgium’s involvement does not indicate full support for South Africa’s claims or a defense of Israel, the country intends to clarify its interpretation of international law in relation to the case.
Several other nations, including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and Turkey, have already intervened in the case. The original complaint by South Africa, submitted in December 2023, alleges that Israel’s military operations in Gaza violated the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In a series of rulings in January, March, and May 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including ensuring the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to prevent famine. Although these orders are legally binding, the court lacks direct means to enforce compliance.
Israel has rejected the accusations and criticised the ICJ proceedings. The conflict traces back to Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,221 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Following this, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 70,369 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and has displaced the majority of the territory’s 2.2 million residents.
Belgium has historically recognized the State of Palestine, joining a majority of UN members in September, although it stated that it would not formalize this recognition until Hamas is excluded from Palestinian leadership. By joining the ICJ case, Belgium aims to contribute a legal perspective on international law while observing the broader humanitarian and political implications of the ongoing Gaza conflict.
