Bolivia has officially joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The South American nation filed an application to intervene in the case, which accuses Israel of committing “genocidal acts” in violation of the Genocide Convention during their war on Gaza. Bolivia joins a growing list of states involved in the case, including Colombia, Libya, Spain, Mexico, Palestine, Nicaragua, and Turkey.
The ICJ ruled in January that Israel must take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and allow UN-mandated investigators access to the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the court’s interim ruling and vowed to continue the “just war” against Gaza. Amnesty International criticized Israel for failing to comply with the ICJ’s order, and South Africa has returned to the ICJ multiple times, arguing for emergency measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite ICJ rulings being legally binding, there are no means to enforce them.
In its submission to the ICJ, Bolivia, which cut ties with Israel in November, argued that Israel’s genocidal war continues despite the court’s orders being ignored. Bolivia feels a responsibility to condemn the crime of genocide and seeks to intervene in the case. The yearlong war in Gaza has resulted in an alarming number of casualties, with over 42,000 people killed, most of them civilians. This has caused widespread suffering in Gaza, where families face displacement, disease, hunger, and death on a daily basis.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), expressed concern about the ongoing suffering in Gaza on the first anniversary of the war. He highlighted the unimaginable hardships faced by the two million people trapped in the besieged enclave, with forced displacement, disease, hunger, and death being a daily reality. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on both Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis, with a significant number of casualties on both sides.
Despite the ICJ’s orders and international condemnation, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza, ignoring calls for a halt to the violence. The failure to comply with the court’s rulings has led to an escalation of the conflict and further loss of life. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with urgent action needed to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure the protection of civilians. The involvement of countries like Bolivia in the genocide case against Israel reflects the international community’s commitment to seeking justice and accountability for the atrocities committed in Gaza.
