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Malaysia backs South Africa’s case at ICJ against Israel’s ‘genocidal’ acts in Gaza
- In its application to The Hague-based tribunal, South Africa said Israel has been acting with ‘specific intent … to destroy Palestinians in Gaza’
- Malaysia called the move ‘a timely, tangible step towards legal accountability’ and reiterated its call for Israel to ‘immediately end its atrocities’
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Malaysia has thrown its weight behind South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel’s “genocidal” acts in Gaza, calling the lawsuit a “timely step” towards ensuring accountability in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.
The legal action against the mainly Jewish state was related to alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
In its application to The Hague-based tribunal last week, South Africa said “Israel has engaged in, is engaging in, and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza”.
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It added that the Middle Eastern nation had been acting “with the requisite specific intent … to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group”.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry said the petition also included a request for the ICJ to indicate provisional or short-term measures ordering Israel to stop its military campaign in the besieged territory, and to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
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