Havana, 23 June 2023 – Cuba has announced its intention to support South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the country of genocide in connection with its operations in Gaza. The Cuban Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday declaring their formal backing for South Africa's genocide accusation, amidst ongoing escalations by the Israeli government against civilians in Gaza.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry's statement emphasized that the Netanyahu government’s relentless attacks on Gaza demonstrate no signs of abating. "Genocide, apartheid, forced displacement, and arbitrary punishment have no place in the modern world," the statement asserted. "The international community cannot tolerate this."

Cuba expressed its steadfast commitment to contributing to the case, supporting all legitimate international efforts to halt what they describe as genocide against the Palestinian people. This move underscores Cuba’s unwavering commitment to justice for Palestinians and their opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza.

The announcement follows a growing list of countries that have signaled their intention to participate in the case against Israel, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Maldives, Egypt, Ireland, Belgium, Turkey, and Chile.

South Africa initially filed the case of genocide against Israel in December of the previous year following Israel's intensified military actions in Gaza. The petition from South Africa contends that Israel's actions constitute clear acts of genocide, targeting a significant portion of the Palestinian nationality, ethnicity, and ethnic group.

This development comes as international scrutiny and condemnation of Israel’s operations in Gaza continue to mount, with increasing calls for accountability and justice for the Palestinian people.