The highest court of the United Nations has mandated that Israel take every precaution to avert genocidal acts in Gaza but has refrained from ordering an end to the conflict.
The anticipated hearing was a component of a contentious legal proceeding initiated by South Africa.
South Africa requested an immediate halt to Israel’s military activities until the court assessed genocide.
Israel has firmly denied the allegation, describing it as “completely unfounded.”
As of Friday’s hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the justices had not decided on the case since its inception two weeks prior. The central accusation of genocide is anticipated to have a lengthy if not annual, adjudicative process.
Though the court didn’t suspend Israel’s military operation at South Africa’s request, supporters see this as a win.
ICJ Verdict on Gaza Crisis
The International Court of Justice determined that it had jurisdiction over the case, that a plausible case existed under the 1948 Genocide Convention, and that the Palestinian population in Gaza was in imminent danger of suffering irreparable harm.
“The [ICJ’s] decision is of the utmost importance for the enforcement of the international rule of law,” South Africa said in a statement. Friday’s verdict was called a “vital turning point in the ongoing pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people.”
According to the Palestinian foreign minister, the ruling demonstrated that “no state is exempt from the law.” It should serve as a wake-up call for Israel and those who enabled its entrenched impunity.
While refraining from a direct response to the ruling, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, stated, “Israel maintains a steadfast commitment to international law.” With equal steadfastness remains our revered dedication to safeguard our nation.
The accusation made by South Africa that Israel was engaging in genocide, in his opinion, was “not only untruthful, but also abhorrent; it should be rejected by all decent people worldwide.”
Israeli Response to ICJ Verdict
Yoav Gallant, the Israeli minister of defence, dismissed the verdict, stating that Israel “needs no moral lecture to differentiate between terrorists and the civilian population in Gaza.”
According to a spokesman for Hamas, the Palestinian organisation that initiated the conflict with its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, the outcome was deemed “significant” and contributed to “isolating Israel,” as reported by Reuters news agency.
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The ICC ordered Israel to take steps against potentially genocide-inducing conduct against Gazans. These encompass not only military interventions but also measures aimed at preventing public incitement to genocide. Furthermore, Israel was mandated to implement “immediate and effective measures” to facilitate the delivery of aid to the Gaza population.
The court ordered Israel to provide a compliance report within one month.
While the ICJ issues legally binding orders, it needs more authority to enforce them. It is not anticipated that Israel will comply with the directives.
Since October 7, more than 26,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been slain in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes. This information comes from the health ministry of Gaza, which is operated by Hamas. Waves of Hamas gunmen breached the border into Israel early that day. About 1,300 people—mostly civilians—died and 250 were kidnapped to Gaza. In response, Israel unleashed its offensive.
