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Hague Group

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A map showing the participant countries

The Hague Group is a group of nations from the Global South formed on 31 January 2025 to protect and uphold the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), both located in The Hague, Netherlands, in relation to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[1]

Creation and aims

The group, convened by Progressive International,[2] declared its creation on 31 January 2025,[3] amid the Gaza war. The group was founded by nine member states: Belize, Bolivia, Chile[1][3] or Cuba,[4] Colombia, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa.[3][4] The founding members invited several other countries to join, including Spain.[5] The Hague Group is chaired by Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Co-General Coordinator of Progressive International, who described the motivation to create the group: "The Hague Group is born of necessity. In a world where powerful nations act with impunity, we must stand together to defend the principles of justice, equality and human rights."[6][7][5]

South Africa's international relations minister, Ronald Lamola, said: "The Hague Group's formation sends a clear message: no nation is above the law, and no crime will go unanswered".[1] According to its inaugural statement, the group upholds national 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".[4][8]

The member states agreed to prevent the provision or transfer of weapons, ammunition and related equipment to Israel in all cases where there is a clear risk that these weapons would be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law or genocide. The nine countries announced that they would prevent ships used to transport weapons or military fuel to Israel from docking at any of their ports.[3] At the launch of The Hague Group, Chair Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla said, "By coordinating commitments across our ports, across our factories, across our courts, the Hague Group aims to build a bulwark to defend international law." [4][8] Supporters present at the launch event included members of independent UN commissions, human rights lawyers, and parliamentarians from several countries including Yanis Varoufakis and Jeremy Corbyn.[5]

The group referred to several different legal rulings in its inaugural statement, arguing that Israel's actions constitute genocide and violations of international law. The group states that it is the legal duty of all states to prevent such crimes.[4] They referred to United Nations resolutions, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 of 1977 ordering an obligatory arms embargo against South Africa, for context.[4]

The group members announced their intention to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the arrest warrants it issued against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant as part of the court's investigation in Palestine for events since June 2014.[3]

The group stated that it would support the implementation of the January, March and May 2024 provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa's genocide case against Israel and the 19 July 2024 ruling in the ICJ case on Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.[9]

Membership and structure

The Hague Group was initially created with nine member states.[1][3]. On 3 April 2025, United Nations human rights experts, including special rapporteurs Francesca Albanese, Tlaleng Mofokeng, and Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito, called for more states to join the Hague Group because of their concern that lack of action was putting the international legal system at risk.[10][11] According to Middle East Eye, the Hague group consisted of eight states on 10 July 2025.[12]

Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla was Acting Chair of The Hague Group in 2025.[13]

Founding State Representatives
Name Title Member State
Assad Shoman Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on Sovereignty Matters Belize[3]
Roberto Calzadilla Ambassador to the Netherlands Bolivia[3][1]
Chile[3][1][note 1]
Carolina Olarte-Bácares Ambassador to the Netherlands Colombia[3][1]
Isaura Cabañas Vera Chargée d'affaires, Cuban Embassy, Netherlands Cuba[4][note 1]
Mariam Tavassoli Zea Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Honduras[3]
Roseli Bin Abdul Ambassador to the Netherlands Malaysia[3][1]
Yvonne Dausab Minister of Justice Namibia[3][1]
Ramatoulaye Ba Epse Faye Ambassador to the Netherlands Senegal[3][1]
Ronald Lamola Minister of International Relations and Cooperation South Africa[3][1][4]
  1. ^ a b Chile is absent from the Hague Group's website. Sources disagree as to which of Chile or Cuba is a founding member.

Actions

Main article: Bogotá summit

The Group prepared an emergency meeting in Bogotá on 15–16 July 2025, during which member states planned to announce coordinated concrete actions for enforcing international law.[14] Representatives of over 30 countries, including Brazil, China, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan Portugal, Qatar, Spain, and Turkey, were expected to attend the meeting.[12][15] As a result of the meeting, 12 of the participating states declared that they would carry out six measures in relation to blocking arms supplies, preventing institutional and funding support for the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territorites, and supporting legal investigations and prosecutions in relation to international crimes committed in Palestine.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Patrick Wintour (31 January 2025). "South Africa and Malaysia to launch campaign to protect justice". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Wikidata Q135009694. Archived from the original on 31 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Owen Jones: The Hague Group launch was historic - here's why it matters". The National. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Bir, Burak (1 February 2025). "9 countries form Hague Group in support of Palestine". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Inaugural joint statement". The Hague Group. 31 January 2025. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Rodríguez, Olga (31 January 2025). "Nueve países impulsan un grupo en la Haya para coordinar medidas por crímenes de Israel" [Nine countries launch group in The Hague to coordinate actions against Israel's crimes]. El Diario. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  6. ^ Tape, Nurah (1 February 2025). "The Hague Group, a New Alliance to Enforce International Law against Israel". Palestine Chronicle. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  7. ^ "Hague Group formed to defend Palestinian rights". Morning Star. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  8. ^ a b DiEM25 Communications (31 January 2025). "DiEM25 stands with The Hague Group: The Global South leads as Europe fails on Palestine". DiEM25. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  9. ^ Juan Cole (1 February 2025). "Global South 'Hague Group' Pledges Israel Arms Boycott and Backing for Palestinian State and Int'l Law". Informed Comment. Wikidata Q132178130. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025.
  10. ^ Ishika Tanwar (4 April 2025). "UN experts urge states to join Hague Group and hold Israel accountable". Jurist. Wikidata Q135009825. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025.
  11. ^ Amid escalating horror, UN experts urge States to take concrete action to end impunity for Israel, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 3 April 2025, Wikidata Q135009939, archived from the original on 22 June 2025
  12. ^ a b Asem, Sondos (10 July 2025). "Exclusive: Spain and Ireland to join more than 30 states to declare 'concrete measures' against Israel". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  13. ^ Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Foreign Policy, 2025, Wikidata Q135440641, archived from the original on 22 July 2025
  14. ^ The Hague Group convenes states from across the world to an Emergency Conference to halt the genocide in Gaza, Hague Group, 2025, Wikidata Q135010028, archived from the original on 22 June 2025
  15. ^ Wintour, Patrick (15 July 2025). "UN's Albanese hails 30-nation meeting aimed at ending Israeli occupation of Palestine". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. The Hague Group was initially brought together by South Africa and Colombia, but since then support has grown and it now includes Algeria, Brazil, Spain, Indonesia and Qatar.
  16. ^ "Colombia summit: What's next for The Hague Group?". Middle East Eye. 18 July 2025. Wikidata Q135439325. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025.
  17. ^ States announce unprecedented measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference, Hague Group, 16 July 2025, Wikidata Q135439417, archived from the original on 22 July 2025
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