The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the Netherlands and Iceland joining the case launched by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
SEE: Declarations of intervention in the proceedings filed on 11 March 2026 by the Netherlands
and by Iceland under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court
Both nations submitted declarations under Article 63 of the ICJ’s statute in the case titled Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip, initiated by South Africa.
Many other countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Belize, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey, have previously joined the case.
Israeli forces slaughtered more than 75,000 people, mostly women and children, in Gaza. It is likely the true death toll is much higher. Israel also destroyed most of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and forcibly-displaced almost its entire population while waging a campaign of forced starvation.
SEE: Research shows Gaza death toll higher than reported
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We welcome the principled decisions by the Netherlands and Iceland to join South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice. Their participation strengthens the global demand for accountability and reinforces the obligation of all nations to uphold the Genocide Convention. Our own government must listen to the American people and support international law by ending U.S. support for the Israeli government’s crimes, including the genocide in Gaza.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com