International Law Legitimacy in Question

By Sophie Ritzenthaler

As of this week, Bolivia has officially joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The country filed an application on Tuesday of this week, joining a list of other countries, in accusing Israel of carrying out “genocidal acts” in their war on Gaza. The case accuses Israel of violating the Genocide Convention with its conduct in Gaza since the start of the war on October 7, 2023. Bolivia is the most recent country to join a list of other countries in the case against Israel; the other countries include Colombia, Libya, Spain, Mexico, Palestine, Nicaragua, and Turkey. In its submission of an application to join the case, Bolivia argued, “Israel’s genocidal war continues, and the Court’s orders remain dead letters to Israel”. The application goes on to say, “Bolivia seeks to intervene since it considered that it has a responsibility to condemn the crime of genocide”.  

The ICJ released a ruling in January of this year telling Israel to do everything in its power to prevent acts of genocide during it war in Gaza and has ordered the country to grant the UN “unimpeded access” to investigate the allegations of genocide. South Africa has returned to the ICJ to plead its case of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and has urged the court to issue further emergency measures. The ICJ also made a separate ruling in July issuing an “advisory opinion” saying that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful. This all comes as Bolivia announced it had terminated diplomatic relations with Israel last November calling Israel’s attacks on Gaza “disproportionate”.