ICJ Court Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide in Gaza

The Hague, The Gulf Observer: The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top court of the United Nations, issued an interim judgement on Friday, ordering Israel to take immediate and effective measures to prevent acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip. The court also mandated Israel to enhance the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

In the ruling, the ICJ underscored that Israel must “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Additionally, the court directed Israel to improve the humanitarian conditions by implementing measures that enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse living conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

The court rejected Israel’s request to throw out the genocide case and affirmed its jurisdiction to rule on emergency measures. It acknowledged that Palestinians in Gaza appear to be a protected group under the Genocide Convention. The court explicitly recognized the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be shielded from acts of genocide.

South Africa initiated the legal proceedings by filing a lawsuit with the ICJ on December 29. The lawsuit sought an injunction against Israel, arguing that Israel’s attacks on Gaza violated the Genocide Convention. South Africa specifically called for an immediate cessation of Israel’s offensive, which has resulted in significant destruction in the enclave and the tragic loss of more than 26,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities.

Among the measures requested by South Africa was the urgent intervention of the ICJ due to the critical situation. Following hearings conducted on January 11-12, the court deliberated on the case after reviewing the submissions and evidence presented by the parties involved.

The interim judgement underscores the ICJ’s commitment to addressing urgent humanitarian issues and ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations in conflict zones. It sets the stage for further legal proceedings as the court continues to examine the complexities of the case.