Turkey seeks to join South Africa’s complaint against Israel at the ICJ. Learn more about Turkey’s move and its implications.

According to a Turkish official, on Wednesday Turkey is expected to request entry into South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel through the United Nations tribunal.

According to an unnamed official, the International Court of Justice in The Hague will receive Turkey’s request for intervention. Joining a long list of countries critical of Israel’s Gaza operations, Turkey seeks participation in this case.

The act of likening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, accusing his country of committing genocide, demanding punishment through international tribunals and criticizing Western nations for backing Israel has been frequently carried out by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey halted trade with Israel in May due to their attack on Gaza. Mr. Erdogan, unlike most Western nations who label Hamas as a terrorist group, commends the organization and regards it as a movement for liberation.

Late last year, South Africa accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention by means of its military operations in Gaza and brought it to the International Court of Justice.

Israel vehemently denied allegations of genocide and justified the Gaza conflict as a lawful defensive measure against Hamas extremists in response to their assault on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the kidnapping of 250 individuals.

The officials of Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain and Palestine have expressed their desire to participate in the case. While the Court is still deliberating on these requests for admission into the proceedings, if approved they will be permitted to present written opinions as well as speak at public hearings.

Although preliminary hearings have been conducted in the genocide case involving Israel, it is anticipated that it will take several years for the court to reach a definitive ruling.

Ever since Erdogan ascended to power in 2003, Turkey and Israel – once comrades-in-arms – have been grappling with unpredictable relations that are punctuated by temporary rapprochements alongside turbulent episodes of disharmony. The ongoing strife in Gaza has currently impeded the newest initiatives aimed at restoring peaceful ties between them.