Professor Juan Cole at the University of Michigan writes in his blog Informed Comment on March 29th that Ireland has decided “to intervene in the court case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel on grounds of the commission of genocide.”
The complaint had been brought by South Africa, and the court found the charge of genocide plausible on January 26. It issued a preliminary injunction, ordering Israel to cease actions that might constitute genocide, which the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has defied.
Cole says Ireland’s intervention “seems to be akin to an amicus brief in the South African complaint,” which will be decided by the ICJ. Cole explains that the center-right coalition government had been “under pressure by the opposition to join the complaint since January.”
Foreign Minister Micheál Martin said on Thursday of Israel’s refusal to allow sufficient food into Gaza:
“It is criminal. It is absolutely a scandal that children are malnourished, that half a population is facing famine and others in terms of food insecurity. There is no need for this. There’s excessive checking at the borders.
The Irish Foreign Minister said he has spoken recently to the Foreign Ministers of Jordan and Egypt and the Palestinian Prime Minister. Martin said:
They’re telling me the situation is dire. Absolutely catastrophic. I will appeal to Israel to show humanity in terms of enabling the essentials of life to get into Gaza for the civilian population.”
He criticized Israel’s “purposeful withholding” of humanitarian assistance. He also criticized “the targeting of civilians and of civilian infrastructure” as well as
“the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The use of civilian objects for military purposes. The collective punishment of an entire population. The list goes on. It has to stop.”
Foreign Minister Martin continued:
“The view of the international community is clear. Enough is enough. The UN Security Council has demanded an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale. The European Council has echoed this call.”
Martin also said:
“intervention as a third party in a case before the International Court of Justice is a complex matter and is relatively rare. It is for the Court to determine whether genocide is being committed.”
Cole reports that on Thursday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued “additional provisional measures” regarding the Israel campaign against Gaza. However, Israel has actually cut in half the number of aid trucks allowed to enter Gaza each day. Cole says: “The Israeli officials routinely lie and maintain that they are letting in all the aid that is needed.”
Cole reports that in addition to the Irish Foreign Minister, the office of outgoing Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar “warmly endorsed” Thursday’s order from the ICJ. Prime Minister Varadkar said:
“Given the very serious conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza, the additional provisional measures announced today by the International Court of Justice are welcome. They require the unhindered provision at scale of humanitarian assistance, including food, water and medicine into Gaza. They also require Israel to ensure that its military does not prevent, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed aid. Israel must immediately comply.”
Cole reports that the Irish President Michael D. Higgins also issued a statement on Thursday evening:
“Today’s new order by the International Court of Justice that Israel ensure the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance – including food, water and medicine – and open more land crossings in order to prevent the spread of famine and starvation cannot be ignored.
“It is now not morally acceptable that a single voice would be silent in the European Union or international community, all countries must do all that they can to ensure the immediate delivery of aid, a ceasefire and the release of all hostages in line with this week’s UN Security Council resolution.”
Cole points out that these Irish politicians come from Ireland’s center-right coalition government, which has often “refused to take a harsh stand against Israel.” But now they view Israel’s actions as “criminal” and are asking Israel to “show some humanity.”
Furthermore, they are supporting South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice asking the court “to determine whether genocide is being committed.”