Netherlands joins South Africa in lawsuit against Israel at UN court

The Netherlands has joined South Africa in a case suing Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the court.

“On Wednesday, 11 March 2026, the Netherlands, pursuant to Article 63 of the Court’s Statute, filed an application to make a declaration of intervention in the case concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) with the Court’s Registry,” the court said in a statement on Thursday (12 March).

On the same day, Iceland also filed an application to join the proceedings.

In December 2023, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In May 2024, the court ordered Israel to end its military operations in Rafah, located in southern Gaza, and to take steps to ensure access to Gaza for missions investigating allegations of genocide.

Subsequently, in November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli authorities’ head Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the territory.