(The Hague) Palestinian officials have asked the United Nations (UN) highest court for permission to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The request released Monday alleges that Israel’s military operation is “part of a systematic effort to wipe out Palestinian society, its culture and its social institutions.”
The request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was submitted on behalf of the “State of Palestine” and signed by Ammar Hijazi, head of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
South Africa filed a complaint with the ICJ late last year, accusing Israel of violating the genocide convention during its military attack that ravaged large swathes of Gaza.
Israel denies committing genocide in the operation to crush Hamas, which launched deadly attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7.
Israel is expanding its offensive in the southern town of Rafah, which was the main hub for humanitarian aid operations. The Israeli invasion has largely disrupted the supply of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians, who face widespread hunger.
Israel’s bombings and ground operations in Gaza have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatant and civilian deaths.
The court issued three preliminary orders in the case, calling on Israel to do everything in its power to prevent deaths in the Gaza Strip, step up humanitarian aid and, most recently, end its Rafah offensive .
It is unclear when the judges will rule on the Palestinian request. If granted, Palestinian officials will be able to address the court in writing and in public hearings.
In their request, the Palestinians said they were directly affected by South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel.
“The Israeli attack has wiped out and damaged Gaza’s hospitals, mosques, churches, universities, schools, homes, shops and infrastructure beyond recognition,” the request states.
Palestinian officials add that Israel is violating the Court’s orders and continuing “its genocidal acts, including deliberately and systematically obstructing humanitarian assistance, resulting in a situation of intentionally engineered widespread hunger and increasingly imminent famine.” .
The Palestinians have already appeared in court. In 2018, the Palestinian Authority filed a lawsuit asking its judges to order Washington to remove the US embassy that had been moved to Jerusalem. The case followed the decision by then-President Donald Trump’s administration to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
This matter is still before the ICJ courts, where cases can take years to resolve.
The United Nations General Assembly voted last month to grant Palestine new rights and privileges, but reaffirmed that it remains a non-member observer state, not a full member of the United Nations and that it does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or any of its conferences.
The United States has made clear it will block Palestinian membership and statehood until direct negotiations with Israel resolve key issues, including security, borders and the future of Jerusalem , and lead to a two-state solution.