Portugal would “very much welcome” a ceasefire ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following South Africa’s complaint of alleged genocide at the hands of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, its diplomatic chief said.
“We would welcome the decision of the International Court of Justice on the need for a ceasefire, since it corresponds to what we also consider politically fundamental,” the Portuguese Foreign Minister said in a conversation with Lusa by telephone from Doha, where he met with the Prime Minister this Thursday. Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Portugal, he added, is “following with great interest all the details of what is being discussed in The Hague,” where this Thursday the UN’s main judicial body began discussing the case presented by South Africa, which claims that “Israel has participated, is participating and risks continuing to participate.” in acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Gomes Cravinho recalled that Portugal was one of the few European countries in December 2022, “long before this conflict resumed,” to support the United Nations General Assembly resolution that asked the International Court of Justice to give an opinion on the situation of the Palestinian conflict. territories occupied by Israel.
“We considered it important that a new opinion of the International Court of Justice on this issue has emerged, and this is also being implemented,” he commented.
“We view the work of the International Court of Justice as the fundamental work of international law and deeply believe in an international system in which international law must be respected and upheld,” he stressed.
This Thursday, the International Court of Justice began two days of legal deliberations on the case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of genocide during the Gaza war against the Islamist movement Hamas.
At the start of the hearing, South Africa asked the judges to impose mandatory advance orders on Israel, including an immediate suspension of the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Israel denies the accusations and says it is fighting genocide.
The war between Israel and Hamas was sparked by the Palestinian Islamist movement’s unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7, which killed about 1,400 people, according to authorities.
In response, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, which was in power in the Gaza Strip, and launched an offensive in the Palestinian territory that killed another 23,300 people, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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