Egypt announced on May 12 that it will formally join the genocide case filed by South Africa against Zionist Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South Africa filed the case against Israel in January over violations of its obligations under the Genocide Convention over its massive bombing and war in Gaza. On the same month, the ICJ recognized that “there was a plausible risk of genocide in the enclave” and ordered Israel to take “a series of provisional measures, including preventing any genocidal acts from happening.”

“The worsening severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and the continued perpetration of systematic practices against the Palestinian people, including direct targeting of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure in the Strip, and pushing Palestinians to flee” prompted Egypt to participate in the lawsuit, according to the Egyptian foreign relations official. It openly challenged Israel’s insolence and held it accountable for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights against the Palestinians. Egypt’s move was welcomed by Hamas, the governing entity in Gaza.

Experts called Egypt’s formal participation in the affair “unprecedented” due to diplomatic relations between the two countries. Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1979.

Egypt’s participation increased the gravity of the genocide charge against Israel. Before this, Colombia, Libya, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Turkey also formally requested to join the case. Ireland and Belgium are already taking steps in their respective countries to formally join in holding Israel accountable. Jordan and the Arab League expressed support for the case.

In a separate application, Nicaragua sued Germany in the ICJ for its support of the Israeli genocide. Germany and the US are the only countries supporting Israel in the court.