Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced on Saturday that Chile will join South Africa in the lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Chile will support the request presented by South Africa concerning the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, as stated by President Boric to his country's Congress.
In December, South Africa lodged a case accusing Israel of violating the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. The ICJ issued preliminary rulings in January, calling for Israel to prevent genocide acts and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. On May 24, the court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Rafah, an order Israel has yet to comply with.
President Boric highlighted the 'catastrophic humanitarian situation' in Gaza and urged a decisive international community response. The Chilean government has condemned Israel's recent attack on a refugee camp in Rafah where 45 people died, as reported by the Hamas Ministry of Health. Boric, whose country recognized the State of Palestine in 2011, views the ongoing conflict as unjustified and unacceptable.
The conflict erupted on October 7 due to an unprecedented Hamas attack from Gaza into southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,160 deaths, primarily civilians, according to AFP sources. In response, Israel launched retaliatory air and ground campaigns in Gaza, with significant casualties.
Since the assault, Israeli military actions have claimed the lives of over 36,379 people in Gaza, with many civilian casualties. The situation remains dire, with continued international attention and varied interventions underway.
- Additionally, several countries, including Mexico, Turkey, Libya, Nicaragua, and Colombia, have expressed interest in joining the case at the ICJ. They aim to intervene based on a legal interest clause, underscoring the global concern over the conflict.
- Since October 7, the war has caused devastating losses in Gaza, with more than 117,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, including significant numbers of children and women. The destruction has also led to famine conditions affecting the most vulnerable populations.
