KUALA LUMPUR – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday instructed Israel to take all necessary actions within its capacity to prevent acts of genocide during its conflict with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
The court also ruled that Israel must ensure its forces stop committing genocide and must also take steps to enhance the humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in Gaza, Reuters reported.
Although the court did not make a definitive ruling on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza, it acknowledged the right of Palestinians in the region to be protected from such acts.
South Africa had brought the case to the ICJ, seeking an immediate cessation of Israel’s military operation, which has resulted in substantial damage to Gaza and the reported deaths of over 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
The court, however, did not grant this request.
Israel, in response, urged the court to dismiss the case, asserting its compliance with international law and its right to self-defence, according to Reuters.
Two weeks prior, South Africa argued that Israel’s aerial and ground offensive are aimed at the “destruction of the population” of Gaza.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh expressed hope that the ICJ decision will include measures to halt the ongoing Israeli war of genocide in Gaza, now on its 111th day, according to Bernama.
He expressed hope that the ICJ would put in place measures to ensure a swift flow of humanitarian aid to save those suffering from hunger, injuries, illnesses, and facing the slow threat of death in Gaza, Palestine News and Info Agency reported.
In a statement released ahead of the ICJ ruling, Shtayyeh stated: “We expect the court to fulfil its legal and humanitarian responsibility before the international community in light of the genocide our people are experiencing, unprecedented since World War II. We anticipate the court continuing with its investigations into Israel’s genocide against our people in Gaza.”
The ICJ, the highest judicial body affiliated with the United Nations, has declared that it will issue a historic decision on Friday in the case against Israel.
The court may order Israel to cease its aggression in the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since October last year.
South Africa filed the suit against Israel on December 29, 2023, accusing it of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
South Africa presented the court with an 84-page dossier, gathering evidence of Israel’s killing of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and creating conditions “conducive to causing them bodily harm”, constituting a “genocidal” crime against them. – January 26, 2024