This announcement, issued by the International Court of Justice, strengthens the international weight of the case against Israel, as Brazil is a major regional power and one of the prominent voices criticizing the war on the Gaza Strip. The International Court of Justice confirmed that Brazil submitted its declaration on September 17, relying on Article 63 of its statute. Brazil clarified that it is exercising its right as a party to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The court called on both South Africa and Israel to submit written observations regarding Brazil’s intervention, in accordance with Article 83 of the court’s rules. With this accession, Brazil joins a number of countries that have decided to support the lawsuit filed by South Africa in late 2023, including other Latin American countries such as Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Nicaragua, as well as Spain and Turkey. This reflects the growing international movement to hold Israel legally accountable.
Previously, the International Court of Justice had issued preliminary orders demanding that “Israel” take “immediate measures to prevent acts of genocide and ensure humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip.”
