SPAIN said today that it is asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) permission to join South Africa’s case charging Israel with genocide in Gaza.

South Africa filed its case with the United Nations court late last year.

The court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire for the strip.

Israel has not complied.

“We take the decision because of the ongoing military operation in Gaza,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said.

“We want peace to return to Gaza and the Middle East, and for that to happen we must all support the court.”

Mr Albares said the decision by his government aimed to add pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to follow the court’s interim measures to stop the bloodshed in Rafah.

Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya and the Palestinians are also waiting for the ICJ  to approve their requests to join the case.

Once admitted to the case, the countries can make written submissions and speak at public hearings.

Spain’s request is the latest move by the government to support Gaza after the country, along with Ireland and Norway, formally recognised Palestine as a state on May 28 in a co-ordinated action.

Last year, the ICJ allowed 32 countries, including Spain, to join Ukraine’s case alleging that Russia breached the genocide convention by accusing Ukraine of committing genocide in its eastern Lugansk and Donetsk regions and using that as a pretext to invade its neighbour.

Preliminary hearings have already been held in the genocide case against Israel, but the court is expected to take years to reach a final decision.