Belgium has officially joined a case at the International Court of Justice. South Africa started this case. It accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza. This news came out on Tuesday. It means more countries are watching Israel’s actions. Belgium now supports South Africa’s case. This case began in December 2023. It says Israel broke the 1948 Genocide Convention.
South Africa says Israel's actions in Gaza are genocide. The court has not made a final decision yet. However, it did give important orders in January 2024. These orders told Israel to stop genocidal acts. They also said Israel must allow aid into Gaza. The court also said Israel’s presence in Palestinian land is illegal. Belgium agrees with these concerns.
Belgium is known for supporting international law. Its decision to join the case is important. Other countries also support or want to join. These include Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, and Turkiye. States can send written statements about the Genocide Convention. This helps the court hear more legal arguments.
The court's orders are legally binding. But they are not the final decision on genocide. The court cannot easily force countries to follow its orders. This is clear because Israel’s military actions continue. Many countries condemn these actions. Israel plans to take over more Palestinian land. This makes the situation more difficult.
This case will take a long time. A final decision could take years. But Belgium’s involvement gives the case more strength. It shows that some countries think the Gaza situation is very serious. They believe countries must be responsible for their actions under international law. Belgium's joining the case makes the court a more important place to discuss these serious crimes.