EU members free to choose stances on S.Africa's case against 'Israel'
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Chief EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano replied that the EU cannot "be a party to intervene in the so-called contentious case."
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Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services of South Africa Ronald Lamola, during the opening of the hearings at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands, on January 11, 2024 (AP)
According to chief EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano on Monday, EU member states can make their own decision on whether or not to join South Africa's action against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
As #SouthAfrica takes the Israeli occupation to the #ICJ over accusations of breaching the 1948 #GenocideConvention, here's what you need to know about the ICJ and South Africa's case against "Israel". pic.twitter.com/3PeLtU7Rhj
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 11, 2024
When asked at a daily briefing if the EU might potentially intervene and support the litigation, Stano replied that the EU cannot "be a party to intervene in the so-called contentious case."
For 100 days, the Israeli occupation has been deliberately wiping out residential neighborhoods over the heads of their inhabitants, across the Gaza Strip, aiming to extinguish life in the region, bringing the total toll of victims of the aggression to 23,968 martyrs and 60,582 injuries since October 7, 2023.
"That means when there is a legal dispute between states — and the submission was done by South Africa against Israel — and this is not for the EU. Theoretically, member states of the EU could do so [back the suit], and it depends on them how they decide whether they will join or not."
The German government on Friday rejected accusations by South Africa before the UN's top court that "Israel" is committing genocide in Gaza and warned against what it called the "political instrumentalization" of the charge, something Namibia said it rejected.
In a statement posted on its account on X, the Namibian Presidency wrote, "On Namibian soil, Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians died in the most inhumane and brutal conditions. The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil."
"Therefore, in light of Germany’s inability to draw lessons from its horrific history, President Hage Gottfried Geingob expresses deep concern with the shocking decision communicated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany yesterday, 12 January 2024, in which it rejected the morally upright indictment brought forward by South Africa before the International Court of Justice that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza," the Namibian Presidency indicated.
On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said that Canada does not endorse the argument presented by South Africa before the International Court of Justice.
A week ago, before the hearings were set to begin, the US chastised South Africa for filing genocide charges against 'Israel', calling the proceedings "unproductive".
"Israel" on the other hand has accused South Africa of acting as a "legal arm for Hamas" and of distorting the reality.
