From outrage to action: Brazil supports genocide case against Israel

Brazil stated it is in the final stages of formally joining the case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In an official statement, Brazil expressed deep outrage over the ongoing violence against the civilian population in Palestine — not only in Gaza but also in the occupied West Bank.

The statement detailed grave human rights violations, including attacks on civilian infrastructure such as religious sites (e.g., a Catholic church in Gaza) and UN facilities like those of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Brazil also condemned the rampant violence and vandalism by extremist settlers in the West Bank, including the burning of the ruins of the ancient Church of Saint George and the Byzantine cemetery.

Additionally, the statement highlighted the massacres of civilians — mostly women and children — during humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza, describing the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war as shameless and inhumane.

The Brazilian government emphasized that its decision stems from the country’s commitment to upholding international law and international humanitarian law, both of which it says have been violated by Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people.

In a separate statement, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed: "We are in the final stages of submitting a formal request to join the Gaza genocide case at the ICJ."

The ministry added: "The international community cannot remain indifferent in the face of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza."

South Africa filed the original case at the ICJ — the principal judicial body of the United Nations located in The Hague — in 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Several countries have either formally submitted requests to intervene in the case or expressed their intention to do so.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been among the most vocal global critics of Israel’s war on Gaza, repeatedly describing its actions as genocide and vengeance.

In the case brought by South Africa, the initial application was filed on December 29, 2023, and a more detailed submission was presented on October 28, 2024.

Israel’s original deadline to respond was set for July 28, 2025, but it was extended in April 2025 to January 12, 2026.

Given this timeline, a final ruling from the ICJ is not expected until 2026 or later.