---

Ireland to intervene in ICJ case on Israel

The Government has approved a plan for Ireland to intervene in South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel under the Genocide Convention.

Filing of the intervention will take place at the court in The Hague later this month.

The Government has also approved intervention in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar under the same convention.

Micheál Martin (Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs) said: “There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced.

‘Protection of civilian life’

He added that Ireland would be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constituted the commission of genocide by a State.

“We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised,” he continued.

“Ireland’s view of the convention is broader and prioritises the protection of civilian life – as a committed supporter of the convention, the Government will promote that interpretation in its intervention in this case,” the Tánaiste stated.