The ministry stated that Egypt’s decision to intervene in the lawsuit comes in light of the escalating severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.  

“These attacks include deliberate targeting of civilians, infrastructure destruction, forced displacement, and creating unbearable living conditions, leading to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 regarding the protection of civilians during wartime,” the ministry said. 

Egypt called on Israel, as the occupying power, to comply with its obligations, the statement said.

“This includes implementing interim measures issued by the International Court of Justice to ensure adequate access to humanitarian aid that meets the needs of Palestinians in Gaza and to refrain from committing any violations against the Palestinian people, who are protected under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”

Furthermore, Egypt reiterated its call to the UN Security Council and influential international parties to take immediate action to halt the violations in Gaza and military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah and to provide necessary protection for Palestinian civilians, the statement said.

Egypt has become the sixth Arab country to join South Africa’s lawsuit, following Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and finally Libya, which the court announced joined the lawsuit on