https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/egypt-to-join-s-africa-s-icj-case-against--israel--over-gaza

By Al Mayadeen English: Agencies 12 May 2024 18:34

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry says Cairo's decision comes "in light of the escalating severity and scope of the Israeli assaults against Palestinian civilians in Gaza."

Egypt announced on Sunday that it will intervene in the lawsuit filed by South Africa against "Israel" before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague over the Israeli genocidal war on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

In January the ICJ called on "Israel" to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza following the original South African request for international action.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry Sameh Shoukry explained in a statement that Cairo's decision comes "in light of the escalating severity and scope of the Israeli assaults against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the systematic targeting of civilians and destruction of infrastructure in the Strip."

"These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 regarding the protection of civilians during wartime," he pointed out.

Egypt called on "Israel", as an occupying power, to comply with its obligations and implement interim measures ordered by the ICJ to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Cairo also urged the United Nations Security Council and stakeholders to urgently intervene to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza, stop military operations in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, and protect Palestinian civilians.

On May 7, Israeli occupation forces invaded the eastern part of Rafah and occupied the main Rafah crossing with Egypt.

The United Nations and other international aid agencies stressed that the closure of the Rafah crossing has severely restricted the flow of aid into southern Gaza, leaving the Strip isolated from external assistance, with very few supplies accessible within its confines.

Sources from the Red Crescent in Egypt also revealed that aid shipments to Gaza have come to a complete standstill.