Istanbul, Turkey – Turkey has formally submitted a request to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This move makes Turkey the seventh country to file a request to intervene in the case, alongside several other nations that have announced their intention to join.
At 4:30 PM local time, a Turkish delegation, including the Turkish ambassador to the Hague and members of the Turkish parliament, stood before the ICJ building to submit their request. The delegation also held a press briefing to discuss the significance of Turkey’s involvement.
The war in Gaza and the allegations of genocide against Israel have drawn international attention and concern. Following South Africa’s initial filing of the case, countries such as Colombia, Nicaragua, Spain, Libya, Palestine, and Mexico have also sought to intervene, citing the Genocide Convention and United Nations regulations as their basis.
According to the Turkish delegation, their involvement aims to strengthen the case against Israel.
“When you have more parties participating in these kinds of cases, the case gets stronger against the offender,” a spokesperson said.
The delegation expressed confidence in their comprehensive submission, although they acknowledged that the ICJ must approve their request and those of the other nations before they can officially join the proceedings.
The ICJ’s approval process for these requests is currently underway. Legal experts emphasize that the ICJ’s interpretation and ruling on this genocide accusation will be binding for all involved parties. Such a ruling could have significant implications for the international community, especially given the widespread criticism of the perceived silence from global powers regarding the situation in Gaza.
Turkey’s decision to join the case reflects growing frustration over the lack of decisive action from the international community, despite numerous protests in Western countries and calls for intervention by the United Nations Security Council.
As the legal process continues, the world watches closely to see how the ICJ will handle this high-profile case. The involvement of multiple countries underscores the gravity of the accusations and the international demand for accountability and justice.