The Cuban government announced on Friday (06/21/2024) its intention to join the procedure initiated by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for alleged violation of the United Nations Convention with its offensive in Gaza.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) said in a statement that it has decided to “support and contribute as much as possible to legitimate international efforts to end the genocide being committed against the Palestinian people.”
The Cuban government argues that South Africa’s complaint before the ICJ “has as its main objective stopping the atrocities against the Palestinian people as a result of the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israel.”
In his opinion, Israel “ignores its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention”, protected by “the complicity of the United States government.”
The statement ensures that, in strict observance of its obligations as a State Party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”, Cuba has the right to present “its interpretation” of the norms of the Convention that considers that “Israel has flagrantly violated by their actions in the illegally occupied Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip.”
“Genocide, Apartheid, forced displacement and collective punishments cannot have a place in today’s world, nor can they be tolerated by the international community. Justice and respect for the Charter of the United Nations and the Law must prevail. International”, says the Minrex.
Cuba, a historic ally of Palestine, has strongly denounced the Israeli offensive in Gaza from the first days and has openly accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of genocide.
In this way, Cuba joins the legal efforts initiated by South Africa and those joined by Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua and Libya. Other countries have also expressed their interest in supporting this initiative.
According to Palestinian sources, a total of 37,470 Palestinians have died in eight and a half months of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
gs (efe, Granma, Minrex)
