Brasília – Saba:
Brazil has announced its intention to join South Africa’s case against Israeli Occupation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses the occupation of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira confirmed on Tuesday that his country is in the process of completing the necessary legal procedures to intervene in the case as a third party, with an official announcement expected soon, according to al-Quds Press.
Vieira noted that Brazil had previously pushed for a peaceful resolution and a ceasefire in Gaza, but recent developments in the conflict prompted the government to take a clear legal stance.
Brazil’s announcement brings the number of Latin American nations supporting the case to six. Five others have already submitted official requests to join South Africa’s legal action, which was filed in response to Israeli aggression ongoing military assault on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023.
Nicaragua was the first Latin American country to join the case, submitting its request on February 16, 2024, and asserting in its legal memorandum that the situation in Gaza constitutes a grave violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. It urged the court to hold Israel fully accountable for its actions.
In April 2024, Colombia followed suit, citing the need to defend the Palestinian people’s right to life and dignity and to ensure accountability for crimes against civilians.
Chile officially joined the case on September 13, 2024, following a June announcement by President Gabriel Boric in parliament expressing support for South Africa’s legal initiative, describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as requiring strong international legal action.
Bolivia joined the case on October 9, 2024, affirming its full support for legal efforts to hold Israel responsible for atrocities in Gaza.
Cuba submitted a formal declaration of intervention on January 13, 2025, backing South Africa’s claims and denouncing what it described as Israel’s “serious and systematic violations of international humanitarian law.”
Brazil’s decision makes it the sixth Latin American country to announce plans to join the case, raising the total number of participating Latin American states to six—among at least 15 countries worldwide that have formally requested to intervene so far.
The ICJ had issued a provisional order on January 26, 2024, calling on Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and stopping incitement to hatred.
While the Court has yet to rule on the merits of the case, it determined that South Africa's claims were plausible enough to justify urgent provisional measures—prompting many nations to seek participation as third parties.
South Africa originally filed the case on December 29, 2023, accusing the entity of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide through its ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths, most of them women and children.
Brazil has announced its intention to join South Africa’s case against Israeli Occupation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses the occupation of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira confirmed on Tuesday that his country is in the process of completing the necessary legal procedures to intervene in the case as a third party, with an official announcement expected soon, according to al-Quds Press.
Vieira noted that Brazil had previously pushed for a peaceful resolution and a ceasefire in Gaza, but recent developments in the conflict prompted the government to take a clear legal stance.
Brazil’s announcement brings the number of Latin American nations supporting the case to six. Five others have already submitted official requests to join South Africa’s legal action, which was filed in response to Israeli aggression ongoing military assault on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023.
Nicaragua was the first Latin American country to join the case, submitting its request on February 16, 2024, and asserting in its legal memorandum that the situation in Gaza constitutes a grave violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. It urged the court to hold Israel fully accountable for its actions.
In April 2024, Colombia followed suit, citing the need to defend the Palestinian people’s right to life and dignity and to ensure accountability for crimes against civilians.
Chile officially joined the case on September 13, 2024, following a June announcement by President Gabriel Boric in parliament expressing support for South Africa’s legal initiative, describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as requiring strong international legal action.
Bolivia joined the case on October 9, 2024, affirming its full support for legal efforts to hold Israel responsible for atrocities in Gaza.
Cuba submitted a formal declaration of intervention on January 13, 2025, backing South Africa’s claims and denouncing what it described as Israel’s “serious and systematic violations of international humanitarian law.”
Brazil’s decision makes it the sixth Latin American country to announce plans to join the case, raising the total number of participating Latin American states to six—among at least 15 countries worldwide that have formally requested to intervene so far.
The ICJ had issued a provisional order on January 26, 2024, calling on Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and stopping incitement to hatred.
While the Court has yet to rule on the merits of the case, it determined that South Africa's claims were plausible enough to justify urgent provisional measures—prompting many nations to seek participation as third parties.
South Africa originally filed the case on December 29, 2023, accusing the entity of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide through its ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths, most of them women and children.