Spain has requested permission from the United Nations court to join South Africa in accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, becoming the first European country to do so. South Africa filed the case with the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel had breached the genocide convention. The court has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but Israel has not complied.
In response to ongoing military operations in Gaza, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that Spain sought peace and supported the court in its efforts to achieve that goal. Several other countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya, and the Palestinians, are waiting for approval to join the case. While Israel denies committing genocide, the military operation against Hamas has resulted in a high number of casualties, causing tension between Israel and other nations.
Spain’s request to join the case is part of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s efforts to support peacemaking in Gaza. Last year, Spain, along with 31 other countries, joined Ukraine’s case against Russia for breaching the genocide convention. Sánchez’s backing of Palestine has received backlash from Israel, with accusations of complicity in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes. Despite this, many Spaniards support Sánchez’s stance, with university students among those protesting on campuses.
Over 140 countries have recognized a Palestinian state, but major Western powers, including the United States, have not done so. The move by Spain, Ireland, and Norway to recognize Palestine was a coordinated effort by the three Western European nations. The International Court of Justice has allowed Spain to participate in the case against Israel, allowing them to make written submissions and speak at public hearings.
Preliminary hearings have already taken place in the genocide case against Israel, but a final decision is expected to take years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not followed the court’s interim measures to stop bloodshed in Rafah, where Israeli troops carried out a military incursion. The situation in Rafah has resulted in over a million people fleeing the area, with hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in other parts of Gaza. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with Spain and other countries pushing for peace and justice.
