Türkiye has formally requested to join South Africa’s lawsuit accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, Associate Press reported quoting the country’s foreign minister.
Türkiye’s ambassador to the Netherlands, along with Turkish legislators, submitted the request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. If accepted, Türkiye would join other nations, including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya, and Palestinian officials, in the case, the report said.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced the move on social media, accusing Israel of escalating violence against Palestinians and urging international pressure to stop the genocide. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also accused Israel of genocide and criticised Western support for Israel.
The case was initiated by South Africa last year, accusing Israel of violating the genocide convention through its military actions in Gaza.
If Türkiye and other nations are admitted to the case, they will be allowed to submit written arguments and participate in public hearings. The ICJ has held preliminary hearings, but a final decision is expected to take years. Hamas welcomed Türkiye’s intervention, and a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasised the importance of holding Israel accountable under international law. The ongoing war in Gaza has strained the recent attempts at normalising Türkiye-Israel relations.
