Daniel Ortega's dictatorship requested the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as part of a case filed by South Africa against Israel for alleged genocide by the Jewish state's military maneuvers in the Gaza Strip.
“As a state party to the Convention Against Genocide, Nicaragua is obliged to prevent genocide and to cooperate with other contracting parties, including by resorting to the competent organs of the United Nations, the main judicial body of this court. “, the dictatorship said in a statement on January 23.
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Nicaragua's request to participate in the case – the regime said – was made under Article 62 of the Court Act. “If this intervention is approved, Nicaragua will participate as a state party with all the legal implications derived from the Court's decision.”
Case before the ICJ
South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on December 29, 2023, accusing it of committing “acts of a genocidal nature” to exterminate a significant portion of Palestinians in Gaza. .
Acts of genocide alleged in the lawsuit include killing Palestinians, inflicting grievous physical and mental harm, and deliberately creating conditions with the intent to “bring about their physical destruction as a group.” He also asserts that statements by Israeli officials reveal genocidal intentions Description by BBC Mundo About the 84-page case document.
At first, the Ortega regime “welcomed” the request, then the Jewish state threatened Israel to “accept all measures” to end its military operations in Gaza, resorting to the International Court of Justice.
“Nicaragua, like the international community, considers that the actions carried out by Israel are clear violations of the Convention against Genocide, and they are accompanied by statements by high officials of Israel, which clearly reveal the genocidal intent and the inhumanity of the Palestinians. The people have been subjugated,” the dictatorship said in its statement this Wednesday.
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The Dictatorship's request for intervention “should not delay the Court's proceedings and deliberations regarding the urgent request for provisional measures, which is expected to be decided soon.”
Other countries supporting the case
The governments of Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba also announced their support for South Africa's decision to bring the claim before the ICJ.
The foreign ministries of Colombia and Brazil expressed their support in separate statements last year. Brazil's announcement came after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received the Palestinian ambassador to Brasilia, Ibrahim Alcheban.