By SUNTV Global | December 23, 2025
Belgium has formally entered the high-profile genocide case instituted by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), marking another significant development in the ongoing legal battle over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
In a statement announced on Tuesday via the ICJ’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, Belgium confirmed it has filed a declaration of intervention in the case titled Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).
Belgium invoked Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, a provision that allows a State not originally party to a dispute to intervene when the interpretation of an international convention it has signed is under consideration. Under international law, any interpretation reached by the Court in such circumstances becomes binding on the intervening State.
According to the declaration, Belgium — a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention — said its intervention centres on the interpretation of Articles I to VI of the Convention, with particular attention to Article II, which defines genocide and the specific intent (dolus specialis) required to establish the crime.
The ICJ has now invited both South Africa and Israel to submit written observations on Belgium’s intervention, in line with Article 83 of the Court’s Rules.
Case Background
South Africa filed its application against Israel on December 29, 2023, accusing Israel of breaching its obligations under the Genocide Convention through its military operations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Alongside the main application, South Africa requested provisional measures under Article 41 of the ICJ Statute. In response, the Court issued its first set of provisional measures on January 26, 2024, followed by additional orders in March and May 2024 after further submissions by South Africa.
Growing International Interventions
Belgium’s move adds to a growing list of States that have either intervened or sought permission to intervene in the case. These include Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Türkiye, Chile, the Maldives, Bolivia, Ireland, Cuba, Belize, Brazil, and Comoros, reflecting rising global interest in how the Genocide Convention is interpreted and applied.
Under Article 62 of the ICJ Statute, States may intervene if they demonstrate a legal interest that may be affected by the Court’s decision. Article 63, however, specifically concerns the interpretation of treaties, making the resulting judgment binding on all intervening States.
About the ICJ
The International Court of Justice, based at the Peace Palace in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Established in 1945 and operational since 1946, the Court consists of 15 judges elected for nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
The ICJ adjudicates legal disputes between States and issues advisory opinions on questions of international law — rulings that often carry significant global legal and political implications.
— SUNTV Global Channel
