Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the largest religious institution in Egypt, announced that it fully supports the position taken by the South African government on the Israeli occupation, and the lawsuit it has filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regarding the Israeli occupation's genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip.

The Islamic institution supported a call for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, adding that the Israeli aggression amounts to "genocide."

In a statement released on Thursday al-Azhar al-Sharif confirmed that South Africa's position expresses "the will of the free world" and represents "alive humanitarian consciousness." 

The lawsuit submitted on December 29 by the State of South Africa to the court states that the IOF has been committing genocide in Gaza. It consists of 84 pages including a variety of evidence. 

The institution also expressed deep gratitude to South Africa's legal team, as well as the country's Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola for taking the legal step in international courts.

Read more: International media reflect on 'Israel' standing trial in The Hague

Iraq's MoFA expresses support

In the same context, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its support for South Africa's decision, expressing its gratitude for the position taken by the country.

ICJ to rule on genocide

It is worth noting that the ICJ concluded the first day of hearings on "Israel's" genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa initiated the lawsuit in December, receiving support from various nations amid widespread international calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

South Africa's legal team stated, in its opening statement at The Hague, that South Africa has recognized the ongoing Nakba of the Palestinian people through "Israel's" colonization since 1948, "which has systematically and forcibly dispossessed, displaced and fragmented the Palestinian people, deliberately denying them the internationally recognized inalienable right to self-determination and their internationally recognized rights of return as refugees to their towns and villages in what is now the state of Israel."

It also presented The Hague with glaring evidence of "Israel's" genocidal crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The South African team stated that Palestinians have been killed by the relentless Israeli bombing of Palestinians who sought shelter, whether in schools, hospitals, mosques, or churches, "and as they tried to find food and water for their families." 

Shockingly, the Israeli Foreign Ministry later leveled petty accusations against the team, accusing it of acting as the "legal arm of the Hamas."

Read more: Cape Town rally echoes support for South Africa case against 'Israel'