Brazil has announced it will officially join South Africa’s landmark genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a move expected to intensify global scrutiny of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, the government confirmed its intention to intervene as a third party in the ongoing case filed by South Africa in January 2024.
The case accuses Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during its military campaign launched after the October 7 Hamas attacks.
“Brazil is committed to upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring accountability where there are credible allegations of grave crimes,” the statement said.
Brazil’s involvement marks the first Latin American nation to formally support South Africa’s case, joining countries like Nicaragua, Colombia, and Libya that have previously backed the proceedings.
Legal experts say the Latin Country’s intervention could bolster the case by providing further documentation, diplomatic weight, and legal argumentation regarding Israel’s conduct under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Israel has strongly rejected the accusations, calling them “morally repugnant” and politically motivated. The Israeli government maintains its operations are aimed solely at eliminating Hamas and that it has taken steps to minimize civilian casualties.
South Africa’s case has already led to preliminary ICJ rulings ordering Israel to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts and improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. A final ruling could take years, but Brazil’s move adds to the growing list of countries turning to international legal mechanisms to address the Gaza crisis.
Brazil’s participation also reflects the growing divide between Global South nations and Western powers over the handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict
