Palestine thanks Cuba for joining the South African lawsuit against Israel
News from Cuba | Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Palestine has thanked Cuba for its decision to join South Africa's lawsuit at the International Court of Justice against Israel for crimes committed in Gaza over the last nine months.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed Havana's announcement to intervene in the case related to the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza.
In a statement the organisation said "that this decision expresses Cuba's firm commitment to justice and the rule of international law, and confirms the deep solidarity and historical friendship between the two countries."
It called on all states that were party to the Convention to unite and announce active participation in the proceedings before the court, stressing that "it is necessary to end the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people and combat Israel's impunity, responsibilities that we must assume together in the interest of humanity."
Announcing Cuba's position, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said that Cuba was intervening "in correspondence with the firm and sustained commitment to support and contribute in every possible way to legitimate international efforts to put an end to the genocide being committed against the Palestinian people."
And accused Israel of ignorming its obligations under the Geneva Convention "with complete impunity, protected by the complicity of the United States government."
Full statement from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 June 2024
In correspondence with the firm and sustained commitment to support and contribute as much as possible to legitimate international efforts to put an end to the genocide being committed against the Palestinian people, the government of the Republic of Cuba has decided to intervene in the contentious procedure initiated by the Republic of South Africa against the State of Israel before the International Court of Justice.
Taking into account the provisions of Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, and in strict observance of its obligations as a State Party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Cuba will make use of its right to present, as a Third State, its interpretation of the norms of the Convention that Israel has flagrantly violated with its actions in the illegally occupied Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip.
The main objective of the lawsuit filed before the main judicial body of the United Nations is to stop the atrocities against the Palestinian people as a result of the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israel.
Israel, with complete impunity, protected by the complicity of the United States government, ignores its obligations as an Occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Genocide, Apartheid, forced displacement and collective punishments cannot have a place in today's world, nor can they be tolerated by the international community. Justice and respect for the Charter of the United Nations and International Law must prevail.
