AMSTERDAM: Palestinian authorities have filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to join South Africa as a party in its Gaza genocide case against Israel, the court said on Monday.

In a statement the ICJ, also known as the World Court, said the Palestinian authorities “filed ... an application for permission to intervene and a declaration of intervention in the (South Africa v. Israel) case.”

On May 31st, the Palestinian authorities officially recognised the authority of the ICJ to resolve all disputes that may arise or have already arisen under Article IX, which paved the way for them to request to join South Africa’s case against Israel as a party.

If granted by the court, the request could allow the Palestinian authorities to also add an ad hoc judge of their choosing to the ICJ panel which currently has 16 judges, 15 of the court’s regular judges and one Israeli ad hoc judge.

South Africa and Israel have been invited to furnish written observations on the Palestinian application for permission to intervene as a party. The Palestinian authorities became a signatory to the genocide convention in 2014 after they were granted United Nations permanent observer state status.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2024