ICJ orders Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday, in an interim ruling, ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide. It said, "Israel must ensure its forces do not commit genocide and also ensure the preservation of evidence of alleged genocide." South Africa filed the case against the Jewish nation, accusing it of genocidal acts in the Gaza Strip in its war against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
Why does this story matter?
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, after Hamas killed roughly 1,200 Israelis and took around 240 hostages during its attacks on Israel. The Jewish nation responded by launching a multi-pronged military operation in the strip, killing over 26,000 Palestinians so far. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict also triggered a significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israel must allow humanitarian aid into Gaza: ICJ
In its ruling, the ICJ also said that Israel must report back in one month on what it is doing within its power to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Additionally, Israel must allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, the court ruled. While the UN's top court ruled that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts, it did not order it to end military operations in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa's allegations against Israel
South Africa had asked the ICJ to deliver an interim ruling on the matter and intervene in the issue due to the increasing death toll and the ongoing destruction in Gaza. While accusing the Jewish nation of having the aim to "destroy the population of Gaza," South Africa has suggested an immediate halt to the Israelite military's offensive in the strip.
Israel denied South Africa's allegations
On the other hand, Israel has so far played down all the allegations leveled by South Africa. Moreover, the Jewish nation's legal team alleged that it was acting in self-defense and only doing what it had to protect its citizens after the October 7 attacks. It also argued that a ceasefire would leave them at the mercy of the terrorist group, which was dedicated to Israel's destruction.
When will the ruling be announced?
The ICJ is scheduled to announce its ruling at 5:30pm (1:00pm local time) on Friday. Moreover, the emergency ruling will serve as a "restraining order" against the Jewish nation until a final verdict can be delivered in the lawsuit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed to destroy Hamas and asserted that Israel won't stop its Gaza offensive "until it achieves complete victory."
