Cairo: Egypt announced on Sunday its intention to formally join South Africa's lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement citing the escalating Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians as the reason behind its decision to join the lawsuit.

Alon Liel, Israel's former foreign minister, described Cairo's sudden move as an "unbelievable diplomatic blow to Israel."

South Africa initially filed a lawsuit in January, requesting the ICJ to declare Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide and to order Israel to halt its military campaign in the region. Instead, the court issued a general order for Israel to ensure the prevention of acts of genocide.

The recent announcement from Egypt follows Israel's controversial entry into eastern areas of Rafah, bordering Egypt, where it seized control of the nearby crossing—a vital conduit for aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's attacks against Palestinian civilians and highlighted the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, pushing Palestinians to flee.

In March, ICJ judges unanimously ordered Israel to ensure the timely arrival of basic food supplies and aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Egypt had previously joined the request for an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legality of Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967.

Egypt emphasized the importance of Israel complying with its obligations as the occupying power and implementing the provisional measures issued by the ICJ to ensure access to humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.

Furthermore, Egypt urged the UN Security Council and international stakeholders to take immediate action to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, halt military operations in Rafah, and provide necessary protection for Palestinian civilians.

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Imphal (PTI): A four-year-old boy was killed and his father injured in a bomb blast in Manipur's Noney district on Saturday, police said.

The incident happened in Taolingpung village in Khoupum when the toddler and his father were clearing bushes outside their house, they said.

The bomb, which was hidden in the bushes, went off when they struck it accidentally, police said.

The father, 40, is at present undergoing treatment at a hospital in Imphal, around 95 km from their village, they said.

A case was registered, and an investigation started to ascertain the origin of the bomb, police said.