“While the British Government is unlikely to back this body, socialists in Britain need to give it their full support and speak out in defence of the Global South nations giving leadership against Israeli war crimes”
By Labour Outlook
South Africa has emerged as a leading nation seeking to hold Israel to account for its war crimes in Gaza, most notably through its groundbreaking legal case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over genocide. This week, South Africa took another bold step by forming The Hague Group, a coalition of nine nations committed to coordinating global legal, diplomatic, and economic measures against Israel’s violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, emphasised the urgency of the initiative, stating, “The formation of The Hague Group sends a clear message: no nation is above the law, and no crime will go unanswered.”
The group’s inauguration took place in The Hague, a city home to both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) and was attended by state representatives from Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, as well as Alvin Botes, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As is clear from its initial members, The Hague Group is an initiative led by the Global South where there is mounting opposition to Western double standards over Israel’s obvious violations of international law.
In its founding statement (which we publish in full below), The Hague Group declared its refusal to remain passive in the face of serious breaches of international law. The coalition emphasised the need for concrete, coordinated action—not just words —to ensure accountability for Israeli war crimes.
Key measures advocated by The Hague Group include enforcing ICC arrest warrants against Israeli leaders accused of war crimes and imposing an arms embargo on Israel. It also calls for all States to defend the international rulings on Palestine, such as the ICJ ruling last July calling for all states to end any aid or assistance that helps uphold Israel’s illegal occupation.
The Hague Group draws inspiration from the coordinated global efforts during the 1980s that helped dismantle apartheid in South Africa. Its aims stand in stark contrast to growing attempts to grant Israel impunity for its actions in Gaza, as well as threats to international legal institutions, including recent efforts by the U.S. Congress to sanction the ICC.
At the group’s founding event on January 31, speakers underscored the importance of defending international law, warning that its erosion in Gaza poses a threat to all globally who believe in justice.
The Hague Group was convened in collaboration with Progressive International, a global movement advocating for justice and equality. The inaugural event was attended by prominent left-wing figures from across Europe who have long supported Palestinian solidarity. From Britain that included Jeremy Corbyn MP, Richard Burgon MP and Zarah Sultana MP, all of whom have been vocal advocates for the British government to take action to pressure Israel to stop its crimes in Gaza. Sinn Fein’s National Chair Declan Kearney was also one of the international guests.
The Hague Group’s joint statement concludes with a powerful call to action, urging all nations to take meaningful steps to end Israel’s occupation of Palestine and to join the coalition in its commitment to an international order rooted in the rule of law, justice, and peaceful coexistence.
Nelson Mandela once said that “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” The founding of The Hague Group marks a significant moment in co-ordinating action to end Israeli occupation and secure Palestinian freedom and in the wider global struggle for accountability and justice for those who violate international law.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur to the Occupied Palestinian Territory who has been rightly outspoken against Israeli genocide hailed the formation of The Hague Group as the “best news in a long time”. She said “Let’s make it real. And let’s keep growing.”
While the British Government is unlikely to back this body, socialists in Britain need to give it their full support and speak out in defence of the Global South nations giving leadership against Israeli war crimes and which stands in clear contrast to the complicity of Western nations
INAUGURAL JOINT STATEMENT: The Hague Group, January 31, 2025
We, the Representatives from the Governments of Belize, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Republic of Colombia, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Honduras, Malaysia, Republic of Namibia, Republic of Senegal and Republic of South Africa in The Hague, Netherlands, on this 31st day of January 2025, inaugurate The Hague Group,
Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and the responsibility of all nations to uphold the inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination, that it enshrines for all peoples,
Grieving the lives, livelihoods, communities, and cultural heritage lost due to Israel, the occupying power’s genocidal actions in Gaza and the remainder of the Occupied Palestinian Territory against the Palestinian people,
Refusing to remain passive in the face of such international crimes,
Determined to uphold our obligations to end the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and support the realisation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian People to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine,
Recalling
the orders of the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa v. Israel of 29 December 2023, which reflect a serious concern about the perpetration of crimes of genocide in Palestine, and noting the significant and diverse number of States that have joined as third States in the case, to demand the condemnation and immediate cessation of the ongoing genocide,.
the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024 on the ‘Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem’,
and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004 ‘’Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’’
the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024 at the Tenth Emergency Special Session, which endorsed the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion of July 2024, and the commitments of member states to comply with the obligations under international law as reflected in the advisory opinion,
the International Criminal Court’s issuance on 21 November 2024 of warrants of arrest for indicating “reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population…the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare…and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”.
the order of the International Court of Justice in Nicaragua v. Germany of 30 April 2024 “remind[ing] all States of their international obligations relating to the transfer of arms to parties to an armed conflict, in order to avoid the risk that such arms might be used to violate” the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions in relation to Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the remainder of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
the United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 of 4 November 1977, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 591 of 28 November 1986, that “imposed a mandatory arms embargo” against Apartheid South Africa.
all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, which reaffirmed that “the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law”;
Stressing that the legal norms violated by Israel include certain obligations of an erga omnes character that are, by their very nature, the concern of all States and, in view of the importance of the rights involved, all States can be held to have a legal interest in their protection,
Emphasizing the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law through appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at the national or international level, and to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes;
Convinced that collective action through coordinated legal and diplomatic measures at both national and international levels is an urgent imperative to uphold the principles of justice and accountability that form the foundation of the UN Charter,
Declare our intention to:
1. Uphold the UN Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24 and, in the case of States Parties, support the requests of the International Criminal Court comply with our obligations under the Rome Statute, with regards to the warrants issued on 21 November 2024; and implement the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, issued on 26 January, 28 March, and 24 May 2024.
2. Prevent provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel, in all cases where there is a clear risk that such arms and related items might be used to commit or facilitate violations of humanitarian law, international human rights law, or the prohibition on genocide, in compliance with our international obligations and consistent with the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 and the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24.
3. Prevent the docking of vessels at any port, if applicable, within our territorial jurisdiction, in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry military fuel and weaponry to Israel, which might be used to commit or facilitate violations of humanitarian law, of international human rights law, and of the prohibition on genocide in Palestine, in keeping with states’ peremptory legal obligation to cooperate towards preventing genocide and other violations of peremptory norms by all legal measures at their disposal.
We will take further effective measures to end Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and remove obstacles to the realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine.
We invite all states to take all possible actions and policies to end Israel’s occupation of the State of Palestine.
We call on all nations to join us in The Hague Group in the solemn commitment to an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which, together with the principles of justice, is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States.
Joint Statement from:
Belize
Bolivia
Colombia
Cuba
Honduras
Malaysia
Namibia
Senegal
South Africa
- You can find out more about The Hague Group here.
