On Monday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that Cuba has officially submitted a declaration of intervention in the genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel. This move is grounded in Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, which allows third-party states with an interest in the case to intervene.

The ICJ stated in a communiqué, "Invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, Cuba has filed a declaration of intervention with the Court's Registry in the case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza."

In December 2023, South Africa initiated legal proceedings against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in violation of the Genocide Convention. Since then, numerous nations, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, and Türkiye, have aligned themselves with this historic legal action.

Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, triggered by a Hamas attack in October 2023, persists despite a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. According to local health authorities, over 46,600 individuals—predominantly women and children—have lost their lives, and more than 105,000 others have been injured since the escalation began.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. The blockade imposed by Israel has rendered the territory uninhabitable, with widespread displacement, severe shortages of essential supplies, and critical infrastructure reduced to rubble. Access to food, clean water, and medical aid remains dangerously limited, exacerbating the suffering of millions.

This legal battle at the ICJ represents not only a demand for justice for the Palestinian people but also a test of the international community's resolve in upholding the principles of human rights and accountability.