Chile president announces his country’s accession to South Africa in its case against Israel before the International Court
Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday that his country will join South Africa in its lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
“I have decided to support Chile and join the case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,” President Boric said in a speech to his country’s Congress.
At the end of December, South Africa appealed to the court, which in January ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent any act of genocide and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, but stopped short of issuing a ceasefire order.
On 24 May, the International Court of Justice again ordered Israel to “immediately” halt its military offensive in Rafah.
The court has yet to rule on the merits of the case, accusing Israel of violating the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention of Genocide.
In his speech, the Chilean president spoke of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for a firm response from the international community.
The Chilean government has condemned the recent Israeli attack on a camp for displaced people in Rafah that also caused a fire and left 45 people dead, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
President Gabriel Boric, whose country has recognized the state of Palestine since 2011, has on several occasions called the war in Gaza unjustified and simply unacceptable.
