Turkey requests to be included in the South African lawsuit against Israel for genocide

Turkey is to intervene in the International Court of Justice in The Hague in South Africa’s genocide complaint against Israel.

According to a Turkish official, Turkey will want to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel before a UN tribunal on Wednesday.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague will hear the intervention request. Turkey is the most recent nation to request involvement in the case; it is well-known for its harsh condemnation of Israel’s activities in Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has regularly accused Israel of genocide, compared Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, and demanded that the nation be held accountable by international courts. Additionally, he has attacked Western countries for their backing of Israel.

Turkey cut down commerce with Israel in May in retaliation for Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Erdogan has praised Hamas, characterizing it as a liberation movement, in contrast to Western nations that classify the group as a terrorist organization.

Late last year, South Africa filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel’s military activities in Gaza violated the Genocide Convention.

Israel has fiercely refuted the accusations of genocide, claiming that its actions in Gaza were a justifiable defensive reaction to Hamas militants after their attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 250 more.

Officials from Palestine, Mexico, Colombia, Libya, Nicaragua, and Spain have also asked to become involved in the investigation. On these requests, the Court has not yet made a decision. These nations will be able to take part in public hearings and offer written opinions if they are approved.

In the lawsuit against Israel, preliminary hearings have already taken place, but it will likely take the Court several years to make a final ruling.

Turkey and Israel, who were previously allies, have had tumultuous relations since Erdogan came to office in 2003. These relations are marked by times of high confrontation and attempts at reconciliation. The current attempts to normalize relations have been hampered by the ongoing fighting in Gaza.