South Africa has announced its support for Egypt’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This decision reflects Cairo’s frustration over Israeli military operations in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, which borders Egypt. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that the move was due to the escalating intensity and scale of Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza, as well as the systematic practices against Palestinians.
Egypt is concerned that a major Israeli incursion in Rafah could lead to a mass exodus of refugees into the Sinai Peninsula. The refusal to coordinate aid entry into Gaza through the Rafah crossing has been attributed to the unacceptable Israeli escalation by Cairo’s state-affiliated TV station.
The situation in Gaza has been described as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with South Africa accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention during the Gaza War. The ICJ ordered Israel to take protective measures to prevent genocide, a claim that Israel strongly denies. Israel argues that its actions are in self-defense following attacks by Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations.
Negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas regarding a possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Egypt, along with Qatar, has been involved in mediating efforts to resolve the conflict. A high-ranking Israeli delegation arrived in Egypt for this purpose, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.
