Turkey bids to join genocide case against Israel

Turkey will formally request to join South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Wednesday, according to a Turkish official.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, in line with regulations that bar officials from speaking to the media without prior authorization.

The move marks Turkey’s latest step in its ongoing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, comparing him to Adolf Hitler and accusing Israel of committing genocide.

Erdogan has called for Israel to be held accountable in international courts and has criticized Western nations for their support of Israel.

In response to the ongoing conflict, Turkey suspended trade with Israel in May, denouncing the military operations in Gaza.

Unlike many Western nations that label Hamas as a terrorist organization, Erdogan has praised the group, referring to it as a liberation movement.

South Africa initiated the lawsuit against Israel late last year, alleging that Israel’s military actions in Gaza constitute a breach of the Genocide Convention.

Israel has firmly denied these allegations, arguing that its operations are a necessary defensive measure against Hamas militants, who launched the attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.

Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain, and Palestinian officials have also sought to join the case. The ICJ has yet to decide on these requests.

If Turkey’s request is approved, it would allow the country to participate in written submissions and oral arguments at public hearings.

While preliminary hearings have already been conducted, a final decision from the court is anticipated to take years.

In July, the United Nations’ top court declared Israel’s continued presence in the Palestinian territories “illegal” and urged the country to immediately cease all new settlements, evacuate settlers, and issue reparations, in an advisory opinion.

In the decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) determined that Israel is obliged to end its presence as “rapidly as possible.”

The ICJ’s opinion, delivered by a panel of 15 judges from around the world, including one from the United States, lacks enforcement measures but is likely to impact international politics.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, responded immediately with a statement rejecting the court’s findings.

The court’s ruling was prompted by a U.N. General Assembly vote in December 2022 requesting its opinion.

The relationship between Turkey and Israel, once close, has been fraught with tension since Erdogan came to power in 2003.

Recent attempts to normalize relations were disrupted by the conflict in Gaza.