The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, said ina statementon Tuesday that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention.

Belgium's intervention does not mean it fully supports South Africa's accusations, nor that it defends Israel, but that it intends to clarify its interpretation of international law in the context of the case.

By joining the case, Belgium intends to reaffirm its commitment to enforcing the UN treaty on genocide and in particular argue that an ongoing military conflict should not prevent the court establishing whether a war crime had taken place,the country said in itsofficial filing.

Several other countriesincluding Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey have already joined the case.

South Africabrought a caseat the United Nations' highest court in December 2023, alleging Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN convention on genocide.

Israel denies the accusation.

'Recognition brings obligation: How declaring genocide could reshape war in Gaza

A final decision on the core of the case could take years.

Inrulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide inGaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine.

The orders are legally binding, but the court has no concrete means to enforce them.

Israelhas criticised the proceedings and rejected the accusations.

Recognition of Palestine

Belgiumwas among several countries torecognise the State of Palestinein September though it said it would not formally take the step untilHamashas been excluded from Palestinian leadership.

Nearly 80 percent of UN member states now recognise Palestinian statehood, includingFrance.

Why is France recognising Palestinian statehood and will it change anything?

South Africa has long championed the cause of Palestinians, likening their plight to its own oppressed people under apartheid a comparison Israel strongly rejects.

TheUnited States, Israel's closest ally, has rejected South Africa's case as baseless andcut aidto the country over its land reform policy as well as thegenocideclaim.

The US has also imposed sanctions on members of theInternational Criminal Court, which issuedarrest warrantsagainst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, along with former Hamas commander Mohammed Deif.

(with AFP)

Originally published on RFI