Maldives has decided to join South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Principal Secretary to the President on Public Policy Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim told a news conference at the President’s Office today that the Cabinet has decided to appoint Attorney General Ahmed Usham as the agent to represent the Maldives in the case.

South Africa, in its lawsuit against Israel, stated that Israel had violated the International Genocide Convention. South Africa filed a case against Israel at the ICJ earlier this month. South Africa also sought an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel had applied to the court to dismiss the case, but while issuing the interim order in the case, the judges said, given South Africa’s submissions against Israel, there were alleged breaches of the Convention and therefore the court had jurisdiction to hear the case.

The ICJ issued an interim order on Friday in the case filed by South Africa, aimed at providing some protection for Palestinians in Gaza while the court hears the original case, which is expected to take years to render its ruling on the case.

The ICJ order did not order Israel to stop its attacks on Palestinians.