Indonesia, Slovenia back further ICJ proceedings against Israel

Indonesia and Slovenia have shown their support for another case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning violations of the rights of Palestinians.

Both countries say that they will be joining proceedings that seek an advisory opinion on Israel's control of, and policies, on the occupied Palestinian territory.

The UN General Assembly voted in December 2022 to request that the ICJ issue an advisory opinion on whether Israeli policies against Palestinians violated international law.

The request was made almost a year before the beginning of Israel's ongoing war on Gaza, in which more than 24,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory.

Slovenia said it would take part in the hearing due to take place in February.

Ljubljana said that Israel's war on Gaza and increased Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank were the reasons for its decision to take part in the action.

"This is a very broad spectrum of alleged violations that have been committed in the region for decades and whose horrific consequences are still visible today," Slovenian foreign minister Tanja Fajon said at a press conference.

"In the light of recent events in Gaza and the West Bank, Slovenia, as one of the few EU countries, has decided to actively participate and present its views in these proceedings before the International Court of Justice, which has been asked to give an advisory opinion."

In a separate case at the ICJ, public hearings were held last week for South Africa's case that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

South Africa's case against Israel was backed by several countries. 

A decision on whether to back the demands of South Africa, which includes an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, is due to be made by the court in the next few weeks.

The separate ICJ hearing in which Slovenia and Indonesia will participate will begin on 19 February.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will deliver a statement for the February proceedings.

Marsudi is gathering input from international law experts to prepare for this statement, her ministry said.

"The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination must be respected. Israel's occupation of Palestine, which has lasted for more than 70 years, will not erase the right of the Palestinian people to independence," Marsudi was quoted as saying by the Indonesian foreign ministry.

Indonesia said it supported South Africa's case against Israel, though it is not a signatory of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Slovenia has been calling since October for a ceasefire in Gaza.