Spain submits its declaration of intervention to the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa vs Israel

The Convention recognises that States Parties to the Convention have the right to intervene in this type of proceeding, and with this Declaration of Intervention, Spain is making use of this right, as other States have already done (Colombia, Mexico and Palestine) and as others who have already announced their intention to intervene will do (Ireland, Belgium and Chile).

Spain is taking this step out of its responsibility as a State party to the Convention. It does so because of a strong commitment to international law and to the work of the International Court of Justice, supporting its role as the highest judicial organ of the United Nations system and as the guarantor of a rules-based multilateral order.

With this intervention, Spain seeks to contribute to the return of peace to Gaza and the Middle East. The aim is to end the war and to start moving towards the implementation of the two states, which is the only guarantee for Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace and security, and to achieve stability in the whole region.

In this Declaration of Intervention, Spain makes statements on certain aspects that it considers particularly relevant, such as the interest in the Court examining the obligation to prevent the commission of genocide in the light of the precautionary measures issued by the Court, on one hand, which are mandatory; and, on the other, of the situation caused by the lack of humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip and the destruction of infrastructure.

The Court has issued preliminary measures in this case which include the cessation of the military operation in Rafah, as well as precise measures on access to humanitarian aid. It has also urged Israel to open the crossings to allow aid to flow into the Strip to bring the medicine, food, fuel, and water that Palestinians in Gaza need to survive.

By submitting the Declaration of Intervention, Spain commits itself to abide by the Court's ruling, which will also be binding on Spain.

Non official translation