Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Ireland to Join ICJ Lawsuit Against Israel in December, Foreign Ministry Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In December 2023, South Africa filed a claim against Israel at the ICJ over its war on Gaza, calling on the World Court to take provisional measures against the Israeli authorities. South Africa pointed out that Israel's actions against Palestinians in the enclave were in "violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention."
Sputnik
Ireland later in the month will join South Africa's International Court of Justice (ICJ) lawsuit against Israel over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip, the country's Foreign Ministry said.
In March, Dublin announced the intention to join the lawsuit, adding, however, that the process may take up to several months.
"Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin today secured government approval for Ireland to intervene in South Africa's International Court of Justice case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. Filing of the intervention will take place at the Court in The Hague later this month," the ministry said in a statement.
Ireland will ask the court to broaden "its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State," Martin was quoted as saying in a statement.

"We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimized," he added.

In January, the ICJ ordered Israel to take all measures necessary to prevent genocide in the Gaza Strip, punish calls for genocide against Palestinians, and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. It stopped short of obligating Israel to halt the offensive, which South Africa asked for in the lawsuit.
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