Gaza:
Egypt said on Sunday it would intervene in support of South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, citing the growing scale of Israeli operations in Gaza and their impact on civilians.
The move underlines rising tensions between the two neighbors as Israel's operation in the border town of Rafah tests long-term agreements and security cooperation.
“The announcement of the intervention in this case comes in light of the expansion in scope and scale of Israeli violations against civilians in Gaza,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said, without specifying what the intervention would entail. Egypt has made arguments in this case in the past.
South Africa asked the court on Friday to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of additional emergency measures in an ongoing case accusing Israel of genocide.
Egyptian security sources told Reuters that Egyptian officials had conveyed to Israel that they blamed Israel for tense bilateral ties and the failure of ceasefire talks held by delegations from Hamas, Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar in Cairo.
Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules Gaza, welcomed the initiative by the International Court of Justice in Cairo.
“We appreciate the announcement by the sister Arab republic of Egypt of its intention to join the lawsuit filed by the Republic of South Africa,” Hamas said in a statement.
Asked about the 1979 treaty between the two countries in light of the Rafah operation, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Sunday that the treaty between the two countries was necessary to guarantee security, and that it has mechanisms in place to address any violations, without commenting on safety. detail.
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