Cuba’s involvement in the ICJ case against Israel is emblematic of its historic role in undermining the global fight against terrorism while aligning with anti-Israel rhetoric and actions. The hypocrisy is glaring: a country that has been associated with supporting terrorist organizations and regimes for decades is now positioning itself as a champion of human rights in a legal case rooted in distortion and bias.
Cuba’s History of Terrorism Support
Cuba’s inclusion on the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list multiple times underscores its long-standing relationship with terrorist activities. This designation is not arbitrary but based on substantial evidence of Havana’s support for violent extremist groups worldwide. For years, Cuba provided safe haven, training, and resources to terrorist organizations such as the FARC in Colombia, ETA in Spain, and others involved in destabilizing democracies. Despite its removal from the SST list in 2015 during a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations, it was re-designated in 2021 due to continued support for terrorism, including harboring fugitives wanted in the United States.
October 7 Massacre: Cuba’s Silence
The horrific events of October 7, 2023, saw 6,000 Palestinians infiltrate Israel, including 3,800 Hamas militants and operatives from other Gaza-based terrorist organizations like those affiliated with UNRWA. The massacre left 1,163 innocent victims dead, among them women, children, and elderly civilians, as well as 301 IDF soldiers, 55 police officers, and 10 Shin Bet personnel. Hamas and its co-conspirators used grotesque methods, including the targeting of infants and the elderly, underscoring their genocidal intent.
Yet, in Cuba’s ICJ intervention, there is no mention of these atrocities. Instead, the intervention parrots baseless accusations of genocide against Israel while ignoring the genocidal actions of Hamas. This one-sided narrative reveals Cuba’s true intent: not justice, but the delegitimization of Israel and the empowerment of terrorist organizations.
The ICJ Case
Cuba’s participation in the ICJ case against Israel is not just unjust—it is a blatant endorsement of terrorism. The case, initiated by South Africa and now bolstered by a host of nations like Cuba that have historically sympathized with or supported anti-Israel rhetoric and terrorism, is based on a framework of falsehoods and distortions. Instead of seeking justice, it weaponizes international law to undermine Israel’s sovereignty and its legitimate right to self-defense against terrorist organizations such as Hamas.
The United Nations and the ICJ, by even entertaining this case, are complicit in amplifying narratives that whitewash terrorism. Allowing Cuba—a nation with a long-documented history of supporting terrorist regimes and organizations—to join as an intervening party is a betrayal of the principles these institutions claim to uphold. How can global justice systems stand by as Cuba, a regime that has harbored terrorists and flouted human rights for decades, positions itself as a moral authority on genocide?
The ICJ case overlooks the horrifying events of October 7, 2023, when approximately 6,000 Palestinians, including 3,800 Hamas militants, infiltrated Israel to carry out an unprecedented massacre. Among their victims were 1,163 innocent civilians—babies, children, elderly, and women—brutally slaughtered in acts of unimaginable cruelty. Hamas, along with operatives linked to other terrorist groups and even Gazan civilians participating in the invasion, displayed clear genocidal intent through these calculated attacks. And yet, Cuba and its allies in this case do not address or condemn these actions. Instead, their focus is singularly on accusing Israel of genocide—a blatant inversion of the truth.
The ICJ case relies on a skewed interpretation of international law, ignoring the realities on the ground. Israel’s military operations in Gaza are aimed at dismantling Hamas’ terror infrastructure—an infrastructure that systematically uses civilian areas as shields while funneling international aid into rockets and tunnels of destruction. In contrast, Hamas openly declares its intent to annihilate the State of Israel and takes pride in the indiscriminate killing of civilians. The ICJ’s willingness to entertain this case not only undermines Israel’s right to self-defense but also emboldens terrorist organizations by offering them diplomatic cover.
The United Nations and the ICJ bear significant responsibility for perpetuating this injustice. By allowing a case like this to move forward and legitimizing Cuba’s intervention, these institutions provide a platform for states and organizations that align with terrorism to target Israel. The UN has long been criticized for its anti-Israel bias, exemplified by resolutions and reports that demonize Israel while turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Hamas and similar groups.
In this case, the ICJ has gone beyond passive bias—it has allowed a state like Cuba, with a documented history of supporting terrorism, to participate as an intervenor under the guise of interpreting the Genocide Convention. This is the same Cuba that has provided sanctuary to fugitives, supported violent revolutionary movements worldwide, and aligned itself with regimes hostile to democracy and human rights. Its participation in this case not only delegitimizes the proceedings but also highlights the ICJ’s failure to uphold impartiality and the rule of law.
This case is emblematic of how international legal institutions are being hijacked by political agendas. Instead of addressing real instances of genocide or fostering resolutions that protect civilian lives, the ICJ and UN are enabling the spread of misinformation and extremist narratives. By failing to hold terrorist organizations like Hamas accountable, these institutions are indirectly supporting their genocidal campaigns against Israel and undermining efforts for peace and coexistence in the region.
Cuba’s role in this case is a stark example of this betrayal. It uses the ICJ as a platform to deflect from its own history of supporting terrorism while pushing an agenda that demonizes Israel—a nation defending itself against forces committed to its destruction. The hypocrisy is glaring, and the implications are dangerous. By allowing such cases to proceed, the ICJ and UN risk further eroding their credibility and enabling the very terrorism they were designed to combat.
The International Community Must Respond
Cuba’s role in this case is a stark reminder of its alignment with anti-Israel forces and its tacit support for terrorism. The international community must reject the politicization of international legal institutions like the ICJ and instead focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict: the actions of Hamas and other terrorist organizations that prioritize the destruction of Israel over the well-being of Palestinians.
By supporting the ICJ case, Cuba reveals its true priorities: siding with terror over truth and perpetuating conflict rather than fostering peace. This is a dangerous precedent that the world cannot afford to ignore.
