Government will consider intervening in Israel case
THE Government will ‘strongly consider’ an intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at a top UN court, the Tánaiste has said.
Micheál Martin said it will carry out a detailed analysis of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling yesterday that criticised Israel’s war in Gaza.
The ICJ stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in Gaza in a genocide case filed by South Africa.
In a statement, the Fianna Fáil leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs said he has asked his officials to prepare legal advice for his consideration on an ‘urgent basis’.
He added: ‘I strongly welcome the court’s orders which are final and binding. These are measures Ireland has been consistently calling for from the start of this conflict.
‘Ireland has a deep and longstanding commitment to international law and is a strong defender of the international rules-based system. The International Court of Justice is one of the cornerstones of this system. We expect Israel to implement all provisional measures ordered by the court, in good faith and as a matter of urgency.’
He continued: ‘Today’s orders relate to a specific case under the Genocide Convention. Irrespective of whether any actions are eventually judged to meet the threshold of genocide, we must ensure all parties to this conflict are held to account for their actions.
‘The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is continuing to investigate all serious allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in and from Gaza, whether committed by Israel or by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or non-state armed groups.
‘All states must redouble their efforts to support the investigation by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court into the situation in Palestine.’
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he will respond to the ruling after the Government has analysed it.
Speaking while the ICJ was giving its ruling yesterday, Mr Varadkar said he will consider its contents.
He said: ‘As a country that respects the ICJ, Ireland will, of course, abide by any rulings that the court makes. But one thing I would say is that if a war has ever been ended by a court order, I’m not sure what war that was. The truth is war is ended three ways – military victory by one side over the other, an armistice, or through politics and diplomacy. ‘That’s why our focus has been on that, on politics and diplomacy, looking for a ceasefire so that the hostages can be released, so the humanitarian aid can get in, so that the killing of Palestinian civilians can stop and also a move towards a permanent
ceasefire.’
‘Ireland will abide by any rulings’