Palestine welcomed Cuba’s announcement Saturday to intervene in a “genocide” case brought by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Anadolu Agency reports.

It also urged “more active participation” by other states in the court proceedings.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the decision “reflects Cuba’s steadfast commitment to justice and the rule of international law, and confirms the deep solidarity and historical friendship between the two countries.”

The Cuban Foreign Ministry noted that to support international efforts to put an end to the crime of genocide committed against the Palestinian people, it decided to join the case.

“Israel ignores its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention (concerned with the protection of civilian persons in time of war), under the protection of American complicity,” it said and asserted that “genocide, apartheid, forced displacement, and collective punishment have no place in the world,” it said.