In a significant development, Spain has announced that it will join South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Pretoria has accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at a press conference, SpanishForeign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated, “Our sole goal is to put an end to the war and to advance on the road of applying the two-state solution.”
This move comes just a week after Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized the state of Palestine, drawing a strong reaction from Israel.
South Africa initially brought the case to the ICJ last year, alleging that Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, launched in retaliation for a Hamas attack, violated the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. Israel has vehemently denied these accusations.
The ICJ has already issued several rulings in the case, ordering Israel to ensure “unimpeded access” for UN-mandated investigators and to do everything in its power to prevent acts of genocide during its operations in Gaza. However, South Africa has continued to return to the court, citing the dire humanitarian situation in the territory.
In its latest order on May 24, the ICJ directed Israel to “immediately” halt its military offensive in Rafah and keep the key border crossing there open for “unhindered” humanitarian aid. The court also called for the “unconditional” release of hostages taken by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
While the ICJ’s rulings are legally binding, the court lacks the means to enforce them directly. This was evident in the case of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the court’s order to halt the military operation was largely disregarded.
The decision by Spain to join the case against Israel represents a significant diplomatic shift and underscores the growing international scrutiny of the situation in Gaza. However, the ultimate impact of this move remains to be seen, as the ICJ’s ability to compel compliance remains limited.
