By Palestine Chronicle Staff

The Irish government previously said it would intervene in the case after South Africa lodged its memorial, which took place last week.

Ireland intends to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) before the end of the year, the country’s Foreign Minister Micheal Martin has announced.

“The government’s decision to intervene in the South African case was based on a detailed and rigorous legal analysis. Ireland strongly supports the work of the court and is deeply committed to international law and accountability,” Martin said the Irish parliament on Thursday.

Ireland intends to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice before the end of the year, its foreign minister said on Thursday.

Micheal Martin’s comments came as the Irish parliament passed a non-binding motion agreeing that “genocide is being committed… pic.twitter.com/5k3utF9fie

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The Irish government previously said it would intervene in the case after South Africa lodged its memorial, which it did last week. Israel has until July 28, 2025 to submit its counter-memorial.

“Under my instructions, progress is being made in the preparation of Ireland’s Intervention Declaration, which is expected to be presented before the end of this year,” Martin said, adding that “By formulating this Declaration, Ireland will establish a solid foundation for its intervention before the Court.”

Non-binding motion

The Foreign Minister’s comments came as Irish lawmakers passed a non-binding motion that “Israel is carrying out genocide before our eyes in Gaza,” according to media reports cited by the Anadolu news agency.

‘Special intention to commit genocide’: South Africa files memorial in ICJ case against Israel

Several other nations – including Spain, Bolivia and Turkey – have joined the case filed in December last year in which South Africa maintains that Israel’s war in Gaza violated the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

In May, Ireland officially joined Spain and Norway. recognizing the state of Palestine.

“Ireland’s recognition of the State of Palestine was a deeply significant moment in our bilateral relations with Palestine and a clear signal to the rest of the world of Ireland’s solidarity at a time of immense despair for the Palestinian people,” Martin said. to parliament.

Concerns for UNRWA

He also mentioned legislation adopted by Israel against UNRWA saying that it “could lead to the collapse of the entire humanitarian response in Gaza, which depends on UNRWA infrastructure.”

Ireland was “working within the EU, as well as with a core group of like-minded states at the United Nations, to explore all possible political and legal avenues to protect the role played by UNRWA,” Martin explained.

“This is consistent with the government’s strong support for UNRWA in the face of continued and systemic attacks by the Israeli government,” he added.

The story began years ago: why Israel banned UNRWA

The Foreign Minister reiterated his call for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, warning of “collective punishment” for the population of the enclave.

“There have been over 43,000 more deaths in Gaza alone, where the level of destruction and human suffering is truly horrific and completely unacceptable and Israel’s war on Gaza is beyond any moral compass,” Martin said.

“We are witnessing the collective punishment of an entire population and the destruction of all of Gaza,” he stressed.

(The Palestinian Chronicle)