Spain joins South Africa’s World Court case accusing Israel of genocide

5 months ago 30

Spain will join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip to help restore peace in the region, in a diplomatic move that comes days after Madrid, along with Ireland and Norway, recognised Palestinian statehood.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) said the move was necessary to support the ICJ and ensure that Spain remains “on the right side of history”, Euractiv´s partner EFE reported.

The Spanish prime minister and socialist leader reiterated that Madrid remains committed to securing peace in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Commenting on Thursday’s Israeli air strike on the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) school, which killed at least 40 people and wounded dozens, Sánchez said it added to the “unbearable toll of 36,000 Gazan victims” since the conflict escalated in October.

After pointing out that, according to the UN, 90% of children in Gaza suffer from malnutrition and that thousands of Palestinians have lost their homes, Sánchez stressed that both the government and Spanish society are committed to peace and respect for international law.

He also reiterated his condemnation of the 7 October attacks – in which Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took 250 hostages – his demand for the release of all prisoners, and his call for a permanent ceasefire.

The Spanish government decided to join South Africa’s case against Israel in light of Israel’s continuing offensive in the war-torn Palestinian enclave and the “enormous concern” over the conflict spreading to other parts of the Middle East, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares (PSOE) said earlier on Thursday.

“It is a step that we have been evaluating for many weeks, and other countries have already taken it, and others have announced that they will take it. Our objective is twofold: for peace to return to Gaza and the Middle East, and out of commitment to international law,” Albares said.

Spain joins Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Libya in supporting the case before the ICJ.

“It is urgent that we all support the court so that the preventive measures to stop any military operation are complied with. And it is essential that we all strengthen the United Nations by supporting the court’s role as the highest judicial body of a rules-based international system,” Sánchez argued.

Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip began in response to the 7 October attack by the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

In its response, the Israeli military has killed more than 36,580 people and wounded 83,000, with some 10,000 missing, according to the Gaza health ministry.

A few days ago, the left-wing Sumar platform, the PSOE’s junior partner in government, also called for Spain to take the step announced by Albares on Thursday.

“Our country can and should support the South African initiative before the UN judicial body. For justice and common sense,” Sumar leader and Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz recently said.

On Thursday, Díaz welcomed the move announced by Sánchez but also called for Spain to be tougher on Israel.

“I am very proud to belong to the Spanish government. But we are not satisfied. We have to continue taking steps forward: withdrawal of the ambassador to Israel and a total arms embargo. We have to stop the genocide,” she stated.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)