https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/9/bolivia-joins-south-africas-icj-genocide-case-against
The death toll of Israel’s attacks on Gaza has reached 42 thousand people, mainly citizens. To put it in perspective, that is 1 in 55 people living in Palestine. Many more families have been displaced and left with no home, no food, and no place to go. The ICJ has already ordered Israel to allow an investigation in Gaza as well as ordering an immediate ceasefire. Israel ignored both orders completely, stating that the war is “just”. South Africa has filed another ICJ case accusing Israel of violation terms of the UN’s Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. Bolivia has become one of 13 (and counting) countries to join the case, with Bolivia stating in its filing that the country ‘has a responsibility to condemn the crime of genocide’. Other Latin American countries joining the case include Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Latin America’s collective actions and statements condemning Israel show a regional ideology of siding with oppressed groups, with the belief that Israel is the oppressor and the Palestinians are the oppressed. This makes sense as the Palestinians lack the resources to fight back and Israel’s attacks have left their population in dire suffering. While Israel claims to be fighting against Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, they have had no regard for the effects the war has had on innocent Palestinian civilians. This would certainly qualify as genocide and severe oppression that warrants an international response, and much of Latin America is choosing to join those stepping up against this oppression.
Ideally, the repeated ICJ cases and orders will prompt Israel to issue a ceasefire to avoid further repercussions. If they continue with their brutality, they risk becoming an international pariah, harming their global relations which will in turn harm their economy and domestic policy. If Israel doesn’t agree to a ceasefire soon, however, it may be necessary for another country or group of countries to take direct action to restore stability in the middle east before the conflict spreads. On the other hand, a potential problem with this solution would be deciding who will be the one to step in. Many countries agree that this genocide needs to end, but no one wants to sacrifice their own troops and resources to stop the conflict.
Bolivia joining the ICJ case is just one of numerous examples of Latin American countries conducting more independent foreign relations in recent years. Latin American countries like Bolivia taking a stance opposing the U.S (which supports Israel) shows the weakening of the unipolar system. By condemning Israel diplomatically instead of using force, all the countries joining the ICJ case are showing that the war in Gaza has not become enough of a threat to their own national interests for them to directly step in. However, if any countries start to see the war as a threat to their own interests and security, that is when we may start to see military action being taken to stop Israel.