In recent weeks, the Netherlands and Iceland joined the legal proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The case began after South Africa filed a lawsuit in December 2023 accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention during the war in Gaza.
Both European countries submitted what are known as “declarations of intervention”. Under international law, any country that is a signatory to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is allowed to submit legal arguments when the interpretation of that convention is at stake.
But beyond the legal technicalities, a deeper question is being asked in Israel and across the Western world. Why are countries that are geographically distant from the conflict, with little direct involvement in the Middle East and in some cases with minimal military engagement for decades, choosing to take such a strong position against Israel?
The answer is complex and rooted in several overlapping political and social forces.
Understanding the case in The Hague
First, it is important to clarify what the intervention of countries like the Netherlands and Iceland actually means.
Joining a case at the International Court of Justice does not necessarily mean fully siding with the plaintiff. Instead, countries are allowed to submit legal interpretations of international conventions when those treaties are being examined in court.
Many countries around the world are signatories to the Genocide Convention adopted in 1948. Because of that, they are legally entitled to intervene when questions about the interpretation of that convention arise.
This also means that the current proceedings are still in their early stages. Cases at the International Court of Justice often take years to reach a final judgment. The legal threshold for proving genocide is extremely high and requires demonstrating a specific intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
Nevertheless, even preliminary legal steps can have major political consequences.
Why distant countries get involved
There are several key reasons why states with little direct connection to the conflict decide to intervene.
International law as a political arena
International courts do not operate in isolation from politics. Governments frequently use legal institutions as a way to express political positions, shape global narratives or apply diplomatic pressure.
For many countries, legal intervention provides a way to signal disapproval without imposing sanctions or becoming directly involved in the conflict.
It is a low risk method of taking a public stance.
Changing public opinion in Western societies
Over the past decade, public discourse in parts of Europe and North America has shifted significantly. Among younger generations in particular, the Israeli Palestinian conflict is increasingly framed through the lens of colonialism, minority rights and human rights activism.
Large scale protests, student movements and advocacy groups place pressure on governments to demonstrate that they are responding to humanitarian concerns.
Filing legal interventions or supporting international investigations becomes one way for governments to show that they are taking action.
Small states seeking influence
Countries such as Iceland, Ireland or Belgium are not military powers. Their influence on the global stage often comes through diplomacy and international institutions.
By engaging in high profile legal debates about international law and human rights, smaller countries can position themselves as moral actors and defenders of international norms.
For these governments, participating in a legal process can be a way to amplify their voice in global affairs.
The bandwagon effect
International diplomacy often works through momentum. Once several countries begin supporting a particular legal or political initiative, others may follow.
Governments frequently prefer to align themselves with emerging international consensus rather than appear isolated.
This dynamic creates a cascade effect in which more and more states join the same initiative.
The emotional impact of the war in Gaza
Urban warfare almost always produces devastating images. Even when a military campaign is directed at an armed organization such as Hamas, the destruction of infrastructure and the suffering of civilians attract global attention.
Many governments focus primarily on the humanitarian consequences of the conflict rather than on the events that triggered it.
This creates one of the largest narrative gaps between Israel and much of the international community.
Israel’s argument of self defense
Israel’s central argument rests on one defining event. The attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Israeli officials argue that the war is a defensive campaign against a militant organization that controls Gaza and continues to hold hostages. Israel also maintains that it has taken extensive steps to reduce civilian casualties, including issuing warnings before airstrikes and allowing humanitarian aid to enter the territory.
Supporters of Israel emphasize that the legal definition of genocide requires proof of intent to destroy a population. Without such intent, even severe destruction during wartime does not automatically meet the legal criteria for genocide.
This debate about intent is likely to become one of the central questions examined by the court.
Why some countries focus less on who started the war
International humanitarian law evaluates conflicts through multiple dimensions.
Even when a country is responding to an attack, it must still follow the rules governing armed conflict. This includes principles such as proportionality and the protection of civilians.
Critics of Israel argue that the scale of destruction in Gaza raises questions about whether those principles are being respected.
Israel counters that it is fighting an organization that deliberately embeds its military infrastructure within civilian areas. This tactic makes it extremely difficult to distinguish between military targets and civilian surroundings.
The result is a legal and moral debate that remains highly contested.
The deeper battle is about narrative
Ultimately, the larger struggle surrounding the war is not purely legal. It is also about perception and narrative.
In a world shaped by social media, global activism and constant news coverage, wars are fought not only on the battlefield but also in the arena of public opinion.
Who is seen as the victim
Who is seen as the aggressor
Who represents moral legitimacy
Countries that are geographically distant from the Middle East are not truly neutral observers. Their policies are shaped by domestic politics, ideological perspectives and international alliances.
For this reason, the Israeli Palestinian conflict has long since become a global issue rather than a regional one.
A long road ahead
A final ruling from the International Court of Justice could take many years. Even then, the court does not possess a strong enforcement mechanism.
Yet the impact of the case is already being felt. Diplomatic relations, international reputation and global public opinion are all influenced by such legal proceedings.
This reflects a broader reality of modern conflict. Military battles are no longer the only front lines.
Courts, media platforms and international institutions have become battlegrounds of their own.
And in that arena, the fight over narrative has only just begun.
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