Accusation of genocide

Turkey wants to join lawsuit against Israel

Pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul(Bild: APA/AP)

Turkey intends to join the genocide lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Wednesday that the legal details were still being discussed.

At the end of December, South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention during the Gaza War. In an interim ruling, the UN court ordered Israel to take protective measures to prevent genocide.

Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip have been heavily criticized internationally.(Bild: AFP)

Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide. Following the massacres by the Islamist Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations on 7 October 2023, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds displaced, the country has invoked the right to self-defence.

Relations between Israel and Turkey very tense
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly sharply criticized the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip and accused Israel of "genocide" against the Palestinians. Against this backdrop, relations between Israel and Turkey are currently very tense.