By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Belgium has formally joined the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
This move makes it the latest in a line of countries, including Ireland, Spain, and Turkey, having already joined the proceedings.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ICJ – The Hague-based highest court of the United Nations – said Belgium had filed a declaration of intervention in the case.
South Africa brought the case in December 2023, arguing that Israel’s war in Gaza violates the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Israel has rejected the allegations and criticised the case.
While a final ruling could take years, the ICJ issued provisional measures in January 2024 ordering Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
The court’s orders are legally binding although it has no direct mechanism to enforce them.
The ICJ also said Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and its policies amount to annexation.
Israel has continued its assaults in Gaza and the occupied West Bank despite the rulings and growing international criticism while advancing plans to seize large parts of Palestinian territory.
Hamas’s 7 October 7 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1 221 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official Israeli figures.
The Israeli military’s retaliatory campaign has since killed 70 369 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. The campaign has also displaced the majority of the 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory.
Belgium was among a string of countries to recognise the State of Palestine in September, a status acknowledged by nearly 80% of UN members, though Belgium said it would not formally take the step until Hamas has been excluded from Palestinian leadership.