Libya’s intervention in ICJ genocide case to prompt others to isolate Israel: Analyst

By Alireza Kamandi

Libya’s decision to file an intervention before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the genocide case against Israel will encourage other countries to join the legal action to isolate the regime, says an African analyst.

Abdiwahab Sheikh Abisamad, a Kenya-based executive director of the Institute for Horn of Africa Strategic Studies, in an interview with the Press TV website, commended Libya’s announcement to join South Africa’s legal case against the Israeli regime over its genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza.

He said the action would boost the morale of South Africa and encourage other countries to join them in isolating the Israeli regime and raising awareness about the dangers of Zionism around the world.

On Friday, the Libyan Presidential Council announced that it had joined South Africa in the ‘Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide’ in Gaza at the top UN court based in the Hague.

The Libyan embassy in the Netherlands also announced in a statement that the country has been officially notified by the UN court about the submission of the declaration of intervention in line with Article 83 of the ICJ.

Speaking to the Press TV website, Abisamad referred to the ICJ verdict issued on January 26 ordering the Israeli regime to take specific provisional measures to prevent the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in the besieged Palestinian territory.

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He said the reason why the Israeli regime has so far ignored this verdict is because the regime has historically never respected international law and there are many resolutions against it that it has not honored.

“The fact that they don't respect the ICJ verdict is not an exception. Still, Libya being added to the list holds significance and may encourage others to join this call against the Zionist regime,” he remarked.

Referring to Egypt, a country neighboring Gaza that has remained indifferent as far as taking legal measures against Israel is concerned; the analyst said the country is caught between a rock and a hard place.

He said morally all Egyptians are opposed to the genocide in Palestine but the Arab country is grappling with deep financial instability for which it needs continued Western aid and military support.

“We are at a critical juncture and historical crossroads and the Global South can and must tip the scales in its favor and in the favor of all oppressed people of the world, which includes Palestinians,” Abisamad noted.

Explainer: What is the significance of South Africa dragging Israel to ICJ?

South Africa has formally lodged a case against the Israeli regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the genocide of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“It must unplug itself from the facade of the "international community" and act to create a world where brutal warmongers and genociders no longer have impunity. If we succeed then Israel and others like it will never commit such horrific actions. If we miss this chance however these genocides will continue unabated.”

On reports about the Israeli regime pursuing normalization of ties with Libya, the analyst emphasized that historically Libya has been against Israel and that shows why Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush was sacked in August 2023 after a secret meeting with then-Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome.

“It's almost impossible for Libya to normalize given what's happening in Gaza today. This is also a good lesson for other countries in the world considering normalization to take such a principled stand as Libya has done and further isolate this murderous regime,” he stressed.  

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