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‘Intl. Law and Accountability’ – Ireland joins South African ICJ case against Israel

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‘Intl. Law and Accountability’ – Ireland joins South African ICJ case against Israel

‘Intl. Law and Accountability’ – Ireland joins South African ICJ case against Israel
Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin. (Photo: via Irish Department of Foreign Affairs)

By Palestine Chronicle staff

The Irish government previously said it would intervene in the case after South Africa filed its memorial, which took place last week.

Ireland plans to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) before the end of the year, the country’s Foreign Minister Michel Martin has announced.

“The government’s decision to intervene in the South African case was based on a detailed and rigorous legal analysis. Ireland is a strong supporter of the court’s work and is deeply committed to international law and accountability,” Martin said told the Irish parliament on Thursday.

The Irish government previously said it would intervene in the case after South Africa submitted its memorial, which happened last week. Israel has until July 28, 2025 to submit its counter-memorial.

“Work is underway under my leadership to prepare the Irish declaration of intervention, which is expected to be submitted before the end of this year,” Martin said, adding that “in formulating this declaration, Ireland will lay a robust foundation for its intervention before the Court.”

Non-binding movement

The foreign minister’s comments came as Irish lawmakers approved a non-binding motion that “genocide is being committed before our eyes by Israel in Gaza,” according to media reports cited by Anadolu news agency.

‘Special intention to commit genocide’ – South Africa files memorial in ICJ v Israel case

Several other countries – including Spain, Bolivia and Turkey – have joined the case filed in December last year, in which South Africa claims Israel’s war in Gaza violated the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

In May, Ireland officially joined Spain and Norway recognize the state of Palestine.

“Ireland’s recognition of the State of Palestine was a very important moment in our bilateral relations with Palestine and a clear signal to the rest of the world of Ireland’s solidarity at a time of enormous despair for the Palestinian people,” Martin told the parliament.

Concerns about UNRWA

He also raised legislation taken by Israel against UNRWA, saying it could “cause the collapse of the entire humanitarian response in Gaza, which relies on UNRWA infrastructure.”

Ireland “worked within the EU, but also with a core group of like-minded states at the United Nations, to explore all possible political and legal avenues to protect UNRWA’s role,” Martin explained.

“This is consistent with the government’s steadfast support for UNRWA, despite the Israeli government’s continued and systematic attacks,” he added.

The story started years ago: why Israel banned UNRWA

The foreign minister reiterated his call for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, warning of “collective punishment” of the enclave’s population.

“There have been more than 43,000 deaths in Gaza alone, where the level of destruction and human suffering is truly horrific and completely unacceptable and Israel’s war on Gaza defies any moral compass,” Martin said.

“We are witnessing the collective punishment of an entire population and the destruction of all of Gaza,” he stressed.

(The Palestine Chronicle)