Brazil has announced its intention to intervene in a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza. This move follows growing international pressure from non-western nations calling for greater accountability over Israel’s actions in the region.
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Wednesday that it is in the final stages of submitting a formal intervention regarding the case, which was initially brought by South Africa.
The Brazilian government expressed its concern about the ongoing violence and rights abuses in Gaza, and emphasized that the international community could no longer afford to remain passive.
“The international community cannot remain inactive in the face of ongoing atrocities,” Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “There is no longer room for moral ambiguity or political omission. Impunity undermines international legality and the credibility of the multilateral system.”
The intervention comes as Israel faces mounting scrutiny over its actions in Gaza, including stringent restrictions on aid that have pushed the region to the brink of mass famine. The Brazilian government specifically condemned the “shameless use of starvation as a weapon of war” and reiterated its concern over the violence against civilians, both in Gaza and the West Bank.
Brazil’s decision to intervene aligns with similar moves by other countries, including Spain, Turkey, and Ireland, all of which have expressed interest in challenging Israel’s actions under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil has been vocal in his condemnation of Israel, calling its actions in Gaza “genocide” during a BRICS meeting earlier this month. The Foreign Ministry’s statement highlighted the “plausibility” that Palestinians’ rights to protection against acts of genocide have been severely impaired.
In response, the Israeli Embassy in Brasilia criticised Brazil’s intervention, accusing the statement of using “harsh words” that did not reflect the situation in Gaza. The Israeli embassy also criticised Brazil for allegedly ignoring Hamas’s role in the conflict.
Brazil’s decision to intervene has stirred strong reactions within Israel. The National Israeli Association (CONIB) expressed disappointment, claiming that Brazil’s move represented a “misguided” departure from the two countries’ longstanding partnership. “This is a misguided move that proves the extremism of our foreign policy,” CONIB stated.
The ICJ has yet to make a ruling on whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide, although it has previously called on Israel to take action to prevent genocide in Gaza. In January 2024, the ICJ issued an order demanding that Israel facilitate greater access to humanitarian aid in the region.
Despite international pressure, the United States and other Western allies continue to offer strong support to Israel. This has left human rights organizations and experts increasingly concerned about the ongoing violations in Gaza.
Since March 2024, Israel has imposed a full blockade on Gaza, preventing most humanitarian aid from entering the region. While there has been a limited resumption of assistance through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), this organization has faced widespread criticism, with United Nations officials calling it a “death trap.” Over 1,000 Palestinians waiting for aid at GHF distribution sites have been killed by Israeli forces since May, and starvation-related deaths continue to rise.
As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, Brazil’s intervention in the ICJ underscores the growing divide between Western powers and other nations that are calling for greater accountability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.