Belgium on Tuesday joined South Africa in a case brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses the Zionist entity of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The UN’s highest court, based in The Hague, said in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention.
The ICJ confirmed that Belgium lodged its declaration on Dec. 23, invoking Article 63 of the Court’s Statute.
PRESS RELEASE: #Belgium today filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the #ICJ Statute in the case #SouthAfrica v. #Israel.
— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) December 23, 2025
Link to the press release: https://t.co/8oJOW1HuAv pic.twitter.com/vi3UMh5RNG
Article 63 states that states that are parties to a convention under interpretation in ICJ proceedings have the right to intervene.
Belgium emphasized that its intervention focuses on Articles I through VI of the Genocide Convention, with particular attention to Article II, specifically regarding the interpretation of the “specific intent” required for genocidal intent.
Several countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey have already joined the case.
South Africa brought the case in December 2023, arguing that Israeli war in Gaza violates the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
While a final ruling could take years, the ICJ issued provisional measures in January 2024 ordering the Zionist entity to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
The court’s orders are legally binding although it has no direct mechanism to enforce them.
The ICJ also said Israeli presence in occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and its policies amount to annexation.
The ICJ assessed the facts and the law and ruled in favor of humanity, morality, and legality. Watch the historic moment when the ICJ declared Israel’s presence in Palestine as unlawful. pic.twitter.com/CHhQE5xFyv
— State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) July 19, 2024
Israel has continued its assaults in Gaza and the occupied West Bank despite the rulings and growing international criticism while advancing plans to seize large parts of Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, the United States and several of its European allies continue to provide military and financial support to ‘Israel’.
Washington has rejected the merits of South Africa’s case, and US lawmakers have criticized the country and issued threats against it.