Cuba has officially filed to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the court confirmed on Monday.
In its submission, Cuba invoked Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, which permits states to intervene in cases involving violations of international law. Cuba’s declaration specifically relates to the ongoing case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, with a focus on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
South Africa originally brought the case before the ICJ in December 2023, accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention in its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. Since then, several countries, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, and Türkiye, have joined the legal proceedings, reflecting increasing global concerns over Israel’s actions.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which began in response to a Hamas attack in October 2023, have continued despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. According to local health authorities, nearly 46,600 people, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed in the ongoing conflict, with over 105,000 others injured.
The Israeli offensive, compounded by a severe blockade, has displaced most of Gaza’s population, triggering widespread shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The region has descended into a humanitarian crisis, leaving much of Gaza uninhabitable.
As the case progresses at the ICJ, the growing international support for South Africa’s position signals a significant moment in the global discourse on accountability for alleged genocide and human rights violations in the Gaza conflict.