Ireland to intervene in Israel ‘genocide’ case
»»State backs ICJ »»Martin: Enough South Africa move is enough in Gaza
IRELAND has decided to intervene in South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin confirmed the move following yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Government Buildings.
He had committed to considering intervening in the case tabled by South Africa after the ICJ ruled in January that it accepted the plausibility of “at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa” under the Genocide Convention, and found it had jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute.
The Court ordered Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza.
The Government faced significant pressure from the opposition to join South Africa’s case.
The Tanaiste later committed to consider intervening following the initial findings from the ICJ. Cabinet agreed to commence work on a Declaration of Intervention that will
MESSAGE Micheal Martin filed once South Africa files its “memorial” case. It is expected that this will take a number of months.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Martin said that the violence in Gaza needs to stop.
He added: “As I said in the Dail last month, intervention as a third party in a case before the International Court of Justice is a complex matter and is relatively rare.
“It is for the Court to determine whether genocide is being committed.
“But I want to be clear in reiterating what I have said many times in the last few months; what we saw on October 7 in Israel, and what we are seeing in Gaza now, represents the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale.
“The taking of hostages. The purposeful withholding of humanitarian assistance to civilians.
“The targeting of civilians and of civilian infrastructure.
“The indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The use of civilian objects for military purposes.
“The collective punishment of an entire populabe tion. The list goes on. It has to stop. The view of the international community is clear. Enough is enough. The UN Security Council has demanded an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale. The European Council has echoed this call.”
The estimated death toll in Gaza is now believed to have surpassed 30,000 amid warnings that Palestinian people are now at severe risk of imminent famine.
Earlier this week, the UN passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It was facilitated by the US decision to abstain from the vote and not exercise its veto.
This has led to renewed tension between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is now refusing to send an Israeli delegation to Washington to discuss.
Collective punishment ..the list goes on. It has to stop MICHEAL MARTIN YESTERDAY