Ireland Submits Declaration to Join South Africa’s ICJ ‘Genocide’ Case Against Israel

Latest Developments

Ireland Challenges ‘Genocide’ Definition: Ireland formally intervened on January 7 in South Africa’s “genocide” case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Ireland’s intervention seeks to broaden the longstanding definition of genocide, with Dublin claiming that “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group” — as genocide is defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention — may be inferred “in any case where a reasonable person would have foreseen that” genocide is “the natural and probable consequence of the acts of the perpetrator.”
Despite Hamas’s Attack, Ireland ‘Stands With’ Palestinians: In May, in the wake of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Ireland joined Norway and Spain in officially recognizing a Palestinian state, with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris saying that the move “sends the Palestinian people a message of hope that … Ireland stands with them.” In November, Ireland’s parliament approved a motion stating that “genocide is being perpetrated before our eyes by Israel in Gaza.” The following month, Ireland’s cabinet affirmed the motion and on December 11, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin announced Ireland’s intention to join South Africa’s case at the ICJ.
Actions Rooted in Antisemitism and Efforts to Delegitimize Jewish State: Israel announced the closure of its embassy in Ireland on December 15, citing the cause to be the Irish government’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that Ireland had crossed “every red line” and that “[t]he actions, double standards, and antisemitic rhetoric of the Irish government against Israel are rooted in efforts to delegitimize and demonize the Jewish state.”

FDD Expert Response

“The Irish government filing urging the International Court of Justice to concoct a new definition of genocide, in order to find Israel guilty of it, illustrates that Israel is not committing genocide as defined by the 1948 genocide treaty. Ireland’s filing also demonstrates that Ireland is motivated by hatred of the Jewish state rather than by allegiance to the rule of law. Ireland’s maneuver makes a mockery of international law, the ICJ, the genocide treaty, and the victims of actual genocides.” — Orde Kittrie, Senior Fellow

“A perceptive Irish commentator recently observed that the ‘EU establishment largely regards Ireland as a land of kooks and wackos on the Israel issue.’ By joining South Africa in this sordid prosecution, while ignoring the atrocities taking place in Sudan, China’s Xinjiang province, and northern Syria among other places, Ireland continues to play this part perfectly.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Director