Turkey has announced its intention to formally participate in the legal proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, declared that Turkey’s involvement is a manifestation of its unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause. This announcement was made during a press conference in Ankara, where Fidan was joined by his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi.
The ICJ has previously directed Israel to avoid any actions that could be construed as genocidal under the Genocide Convention. This directive came after South Africa leveled accusations of state-sponsored genocide by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier indicated that Turkey was actively contributing documentation to support the case at the ICJ, also known as the World Court.
In a show of solidarity with South Africa and Colombia, which has also expressed a desire to join the case, Turkey plans to submit an official request for intervention to the ICJ. The move by Colombia last month was aimed at safeguarding the Palestinian population’s welfare and existence. The ICJ permits nations to intervene in ongoing cases and present their perspectives.
While Israel and its Western allies have dismissed the allegations made by South Africa as unfounded, the legal process at the ICJ is expected to be protracted, with a final decision potentially taking years.
In a related development, the ICJ decided against implementing urgent measures regarding German arms sales to Israel, as Nicaragua had requested. Nicaragua’s plea was based on the contention that there was an imminent risk of genocide in Gaza amid the Israeli offensive. Germany has refuted these claims.
Moreover, the ICJ has mandated Israel to ensure the prompt delivery of essential food supplies to the Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza, where a famine threat looms. The severe food scarcity in the region is a consequence of Israel’s stringent restrictions on humanitarian aid and the continuation of its military campaign, which commenced almost seven months ago. According to rights organizations and officials, including USAID’s Samantha Power, famine conditions are already present in northern Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement within Gaza. Palestinian authorities report that the war has claimed the lives of over 34,000 individuals, predominantly women and children. The conflict has also led to the displacement of more than 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with entire neighborhoods being destroyed due to the Israeli attacks. Conversely, Hamas’s assaults on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in over a thousand fatalities and numerous captives.
