Managua, February 9 (RHC)-- Nicaragua has formally requested to join South Africa in its genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court says.  The Central American country filed its own application on January 23rd, the Hague-based ICJ also known as the World Court said on Thursday.

"In its application for permission to intervene, Nicaragua states that it 'has interests of a legal nature that stem from the rights and obligations imposed by the Genocide Convention on all State Parties," the ICJ said.

According to the court’s statement, Nicaragua also urged judges to rule that Israel "has breached and continues to breach its obligations under the Genocide Convention" and to "cease acts or measures which would be capable of killing or continuing to kill Palestinians."

South Africa and Israel have been invited to furnish written observations on Nicaragua’s application for permission to intervene as a party.  South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip.

According to South Africa’s application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

Last month, the ICJ issued an interim ruling on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel, ordering Tel Aviv to take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7th and since then, it has killed at least 27,840 Palestinians and injured more than 67,317 others.  Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under “complete siege” by Israel.