The Turkish government announced on Wednesday that it aims to become a party to a lawsuit accusing Israel of “genocide” against the terrorist organization Hamas at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The ICJ lawsuit brought by South Africa’s radical leftist government alleges that Israel’s self-defense operations in Hamas’ stronghold in the Gaza Strip actually target civilians and are intended to exterminate the local population. South Africa has struggled to be consistent, at one point misquoting the Bible in an attempt to claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared genocidal intent.
South Africa welcomed representatives of the terrorist organization Hamas. Expressly Calls for genocide of Israelis and Jews in general – Holds friendly meeting with government leaders in December.
Turkey has similarly welcomed Hamas leaders, most recently warmly welcoming Hamas’s “political” leader Ismail Haniyeh to Istanbul in April. Turkish Islamist strongman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is an enthusiastic supporter of Hamas, repeatedly claiming in public that Hamas is “not a terrorist organization,” and comparing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
president @RETerdogan He met with Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’s political bureau, at the Dolmabahçe presidential palace in Istanbul. pic.twitter.com/L1haaOyRpX
— President of Turkiye Republic (@trpresidency) April 20, 2024
“After the decision to join[the lawsuit]has been taken by our respected president, we will submit a formal application through legal procedures,” Turkish Grand National Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Kunit Yuksel announced on Wednesday. . according to This was reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency. “As we have done to this day, we will continue our determined efforts to ensure the condemnation of Israel, which has been condemned by the conscience of humanity and by the eyes of the law.”
“While the Palestinian issue is considered to be based on the rule of law and international law, it is an issue that could even affect the sustainability of the current international order and lead to global consequences.” Yuksel argued, possibly accusing Israel of “apartheid.” For his recognition of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority’s territorial control and “occupation” of that same territory.
Anadolu noted that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed the plan to join South Africa in The Hague.
“As soon as the legal documentation of our activities is completed, we will submit a declaration of public intervention to the ICJ with a view to implementing this political decision,” Qatari news agency Al Jazeera reported. Quote Fidan said:
“Turkey will continue to support the Palestinian people under any circumstances,” he pledged.
Al Jazeera reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in January that Turkey had already requested assistance from South Africa for the incident, and that Turkey was the second country after Colombia to formally apply to join the incident. He pointed out.
Colombia had decades of friendly relations with Israel, benefiting from extensive military cooperation until socialist President Gustavo Petro took office on Wednesday. announced Ending formal diplomatic relations in support of Hamas. Petro is the first leftist president in Colombia’s history.
of ICJ The Hague is home to the Supreme Court of the United Nations. The body can only hear cases between contracting states, or United Nations member states, and cannot try individuals. As Al Jazeera points out, it could take years for the Israeli case to be decided. The ICJ initially responded to South Africa’s complaint by issuing a statement calling on Israel not to commit acts of genocide and to facilitate humanitarian assistance to civilians, but the ICJ initially responded to South Africa’s complaint by issuing a statement calling on Israel not to commit acts of genocide and to facilitate humanitarian assistance to civilians. rejected a move to grant an emergency ruling to block the operation in Gaza. South of Rafah, the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa has similarly made no move to punish Hamas for the brutal jihadist siege of the country on October 7, which triggered Israel’s self-defense operation. On that day, Hamas terrorists invaded the country and carried out door-to-door massacres of the population. Random attacks on civilians in residential areas, killing entire families, including young children, in their homes. Hamas is estimated to have killed 1,200 people, carried out mass gang rapes, and kidnapped 250 people, of whom around 130 are believed to remain in captivity.
Beyond failing to condemn Hamas, the report released by the United Nations jerusalem post office In January, it uncovered evidence that South African banks were facilitating financing for Hamas through shell companies.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been one of Hamas’s most vocal supporters since October 7, refusing to condemn the siege and welcoming Hamas leaders to his country.
“Hamas is not a terrorist organization, Mujahideen We must protect our land,” President Erdoğan said. declared October 25th.
That same month, President Erdoğan hosted a rally at Istanbuk’s Ataturk Airport, dubbed the “Palestinian Mass Rally,” where the Turkish government claimed 1.5 million people had gathered in support of Hamas.
“O Israel, we declare you to the world as a war criminal. We are preparing to present Israel to the world as a war criminal,” Erdoğan announced at the time, adding that “Hamas is not a terrorist organization.” I repeated.
Before seeking to join the ICJ case, Turkish lawyers associated with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) announced in November that they would pursue a case against Prime Minister Netanyahu personally at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Unlike the ICJ, the ICC can handle cases against individuals and only deals with cases involving three international crimes: war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.Turkey is not a party roman law, the document that created the ICC, the ability to sue the ICC remains unclear at best. Israel is also not a party to the Rome Statute.
“On behalf of the conscience of the people of the Republic of Turkey, we oppose the genocide committed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” one of the lawyers, Metin Kuruncu, said in a statement. The crimes he committed are crimes against humanity and he must be tried as a genocide and murderer at the International Criminal Court. ”
