Iceland intervenes in South Africa case at the International Court of Justice

The Government of Iceland has filed a declaration of intervention in the case lodged by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice. As a Contracting Party to the Genocide Convention, Iceland intervenes under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court. 

In the case, South Africa alleges violations by Israel of its obligations under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention in the context of the Gaza War, which broke out following the terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel on 7 October 2023. 

Iceland has been unequivocal and unconditional in its condemnation of the 7 October 2023 attack. Iceland has likewise condemned the catastrophic humanitarian situation wrought on the civilian population of Gaza in the ensuing conflict. 

The Government supports the role of impartial and independent courts in adjudicating on violations of international law. In accordance with the Court’s Statute, Iceland’s intervention addresses the interpretation of the provisions of the Genocide Convention at issue in the case. 

The decision to intervene is a part of the Government’s implementation of Iceland’s policy on the Gaza conflict, including a resolution unanimously adopted by the Parliament of Iceland, Althingi, in November 2023, and emphasizes compliance with international law and the investigation of all violations thereof by parties to the conflict. 

The Declaration of Intervention has been prepared in partnership with two of Iceland’s foremost scholars in the field of public international law: Dr. Þórdís Ingadóttir, Professor at the University of Reykjavík, and Dr. Kári Hólmar Ragnarsson, Associate Professor at the University of Iceland.

The Declaration can be accessed on the website of the International Court of Justice.