Dalia Fahmy, associate professor of political science at Long Island University, says Egypt’s decision to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel marks an “unprecedented moment in the modern-day history” between the two countries.

“Egypt has been the most important mediator in the region, the first Arab nation to recognise and formalise ties with Israel in 1979. And here is the symbolic moment, where the Egyptian government puts its foot down. The first is a humanitarian one, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the [Israeli] intervention currently comes in increasing severity. And that Israel’s actions in Gaza leading to the death of almost 40,000 individuals violates international humanitarian law and the fourth Geneva Convention,” she told Al Jazeera.

“This moment has deeper implications at the political level, because Israel has not proved itself in the eyes of Egypt as a good faith negotiator. It didn’t sign on to the ceasefire agreement even though it had said it would. Also for months, Egyptian officials have stated that Israeli invasion of Rafah would risk peace ties between the two countries. It’s more than the ICJ ruling, it’s also a blow to the ties between the two countries, because Israel … has actually seized the border and they have taken tactical provisional authority over the border.”