Palestinians pray during the last Friday noon prayer of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Talbani Mosque, destroyed by the Israeli military in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on March 13, 2026. AFP
The ICJ, the highest court in the UN system, said the two countries submitted their declarations on 11 March under Article 63 of its statute, which allows states that are parties to a convention under interpretation in a case to intervene in proceedings.
The ICJ has invited both South Africa and Israel to submit written observations on the interventions.
The Netherlands-Iceland move comes on the eve of International Al-Quds Day, observed annually across various countries to express support for the Palestinian cause and opposition to Israeli control over Jerusalem, known in Arabic as Al-Quds.
The move also comes as the Israeli occupation army continues to breach the terms of the ceasefire with Hamas, signed in October 2025, on hundreds of occasions, with Israeli strikes killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians.
Since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza on 7 October 2023:
Killed: At least 72,136 Palestinians have been confirmed dead, mostly women and children.
Wounded: At least 171,839 Palestinians have been reported injured.
Since the October 2025 ceasefire, medical sources have documented approximately 651 fatalities and over 1,741 injuries.
Missing and Under Rubble: Official figures are considered conservative by many humanitarian organizations, as they do not include thousands of people who remain missing or trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Humanitarian Impact: Beyond direct violence, thousands of excess deaths have been attributed to starvation, cold, and the collapse of the healthcare system.
In August 2025, the United Nations declared famine in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade of the strip.
At least 25 children were reported to have died from malnutrition in early March 2026 alone.
West Bank Casualties: Outside of Gaza, at least 1,058 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since 7 October 2023.
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