Egypt to intervene in ICJ case as Israel tensions rise

13/5/2024 11:59

        Egypt on Sunday said it would intervene in support of South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, citing the growing scale of Israel's operations in Gaza and their impact on civilians.
        
        The move highlights growing tensions between the two neighbours as the Israeli operation in border town Rafah tests long-term agreements and security cooperation.
        
        "The announcement of the intervention in this case comes in light of the expansion in scope and scale of Israeli violations against civilians in Gaza," the Egyptian foreign ministry said, without specifying what the intervention would entail. Egypt has in the past presented arguments in the case.
        
        South Africa asked the court on Friday to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of additional emergency measures in an ongoing case that accuses Israel of acts of genocide.
        
        Egyptian security sources told Reuters that Egyptian officials had relayed to Israel that they blamed them and their actions for the strained bilateral relations and for the breakdown of ceasefire talks delegations in Cairo from Hamas, Israel, the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.