The Hague, December 28 (RHC)-- At the International Court of Justice on Friday, 14 countries joined or signalled their intention to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.

In the case, formally filed in December last year, South Africa says that Israel had committed and was committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, contravening the Genocide Convention, including what South Africa described as Israel's 75-year apartheid, 56-year occupation, and 16-year blockade of the Strip.  

South Africa requested that the ICJ indicate provisional measures of protection, including the immediate suspension of Israel's operations.

In Gaza during recent hours, Israeli strikes killed at least 25 people, including 15 people in a single house in Gaza City, medics and the civil emergency service said.

Organiations including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also found that Israeli actions in Gaza are compatible with the crime of genocide.

Israel’s assault has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians since October last year, according to health officials in the enclave.  Most of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced and much of Gaza is in ruins.