At least 19 Belgian international law professors have called on the country to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Anadolu Agency (AA) report.
In an open letter published on Thursday, January 18th, de morgen The professors stressed that Belgium, as a party to the Genocide Convention, has a responsibility to take action in the event of a serious risk of genocide.
The report said that Belgium, like South Africa, has an obligation to prevent and punish genocide and that filing a case with the ICJ could fulfill this obligation.
The letter said that Belgium’s intervention is expected to strengthen Belgium’s stance on the prevention and prohibition of genocide in current and future conflicts.
The professors added that intervention is needed to address Israeli actions that demonstrate the deliberate destruction of humanitarian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and genocidal intent.
They argue that intervening before the ICJ’s ruling could help interpret the situation in Gaza as genocide, condemn the destruction of humanitarian infrastructure, and prevent such acts in the future. There is.
The professors stressed that Article 63’s intervention in litigation does not mean “taking sides” but is aimed at ensuring the correct application and interpretation of the Genocide Convention.
On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed a complaint with the ICJ accusing Israel of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide, signed in 1948 after the Holocaust during World War II.
On Thursday, January 11th and Friday, January 12th, the ICJ held hearings in the South African case accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
This post was last updated on January 20, 2024 at 10:14am.