Colombia has withdrawn from the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the court has confirmed. The case was originally filed by South Africa in December 2023, alleging that Israel's military operations in Gaza violated the Genocide Convention.
Colombia had formally joined the proceedings in 2024, becoming one of several countries to support South Africa's case. The ICJ has not yet issued a final ruling on the merits of the genocide allegations, but it has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Israeli ambassador to Colombia Vivien Aisen welcomed the decision, stating that Colombia had chosen "the right side of history" and made "a brave and responsible decision." The Colombian government has not yet issued a detailed statement on its withdrawal.
The ICJ case continues with South Africa as the applicant and Israel as the respondent. Other countries that had joined the case, including Nicaragua, Libya, and others, remain parties. The withdrawal of Colombia reduces the number of states supporting the case but does not affect the core proceedings.
