Brazil has formally decided to join South Africa’s lawsuit at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention through military action in Gaza. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on July 24, 2025, that it is in the final stages of submitting its intervention request, expressing “deep indignation” over repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and places of worship, and condemning the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Brazil’s move follows earlier Latin American and global support for South Africa’s December 2023 filing.
South Africa’s case alleges that Israel’s military campaign extends beyond targeting Hamas and constitutes actions aimed at destroying part of the Palestinian group. The court has already issued binding interim orders requiring Israel to take steps to prevent genocide and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Brazil welcomed these measures as legally binding and called for compliance, underscoring the urgency of humanitarian relief.
Brazil’s decision aligns with broader global backing. Countries such as Colombia, Spain, Turkey, and Ireland have also requested intervention in the case. The newly created Hague Group—a coalition of Global South countries including Brazil and South Africa—has pledged to uphold ICJ rulings and block arms or military support linked to actions that might violate international law.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, branding them as genocide and likening the ongoing violence to a repetition of historical atrocities. Brazil’s foreign policy emphasizes a two-state solution and advocates for an independent, viable Palestinian State alongside Israel.
Israel has strongly rejected the lawsuit, calling it an abuse of the Genocide Convention and dismissing allegations made by South Africa and now supported by Brazil. Israeli officials in Brasília accused the Brazilian statement of ignoring Hamas’s role. Brazil’s national Jewish association also criticized the move as extremist and destructive to long-standing diplomatic ties.
Brazil’s participation adds legal weight and political momentum to the evolving ICJ proceedings. If accepted, its intervention will mark one of the strongest non-African state endorsements of South Africa’s case, deepening international pressure for accountability and compliance under international humanitarian law.
Credit: Al Jazeera, Africanews
