The government of Maldives has said that it will formally join the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement by the President’s office, the government of Maldives stated that the move comes due to “genocidal acts perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces under the guise of security concerns [which] have resulted in mass displacement, acute starvation, and blockage of humanitarian aid.”
The government also said that demands made by Israel for the immediate evacuation of thousands of Palestinian civilians seeking refuge in eastern Rafah “are a testament to its failure to adhere to the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ.”
Maldives’ announcement came after Egypt announced that it will formally intervene to support South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel under the Genocide Convention.
Three other countries have already filed interventions in support of the case; Colombia, Libya and Nicaragua
Turkey has also said that it is planning to join them.
Speaking to a news agency about Egypt joining South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Tamer Qarmout, Assistant Professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said thatthe relationship between Egypt and Israel is “very sensitive,” considering they have fought wars in the past and signed a peace treaty.
He said that Egypt had wanted to maintain its position as a mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, so it had “played along” with the US’s approach to Israel’s war on Gaza.
“However, now Egypt has reached a point where it understands the situation in Gaza is out of control and they cannot trust the United States or the Israelis,” Qarmout said.
The Rafah corridor is a “red line” for the Egyptians, he said, adding the fact that Israeli tanks are on the border is a violation of the Camp David peace accords.
Qarmout noted that the Egyptians are worried now that Israel will push Palestinian civilians into the Sinai Peninsula.
UN Confirms Killing Of First International Staff In Gaza
Also on Monday, the UN confirmed its first international staff casualty in Gaza after a UN vehicle was hit in Rafah.
Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said during a news conference that the total number of UN staff killed in Gaza since October 7 has reached 190.
He said the Rafah incident could be characterised as an attack.
The spokesperson confirmed that there were two individuals in Rafah in a UN-marked vehicle on their way to the European Hospital there as part of their duties.
The UN disclosed that they work for the Department of Safety and Security and that they came under fire, and one of them was killed, and that person is an international staff member of the UN.
The UN did not state what country the individual is from as it is still waiting to inform family members.
The second individual was injured. It was said that the injuries are minor.
The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned the Israeli army for killing a foreign UN employee and injuring another staffer in Rafah while they were riding in a United Nations vehicle.
“They were targeted while they were riding in a United Nations vehicle bearing the United Nations flag and United Nations insignia”, a statement from the office stated.
The statement shared on Telegram demanded “an end to the war of genocide” and blamed the US administration for Israel’s “war crimes.”
READ ALSO: UK Expects Boost in Freight Movement Through Ghana’s Ports with New Airport
