The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands ruled Friday, on South Africa’s request for “provisional measures” against Israel amid claims of state-led genocide.
Court President Joan Donoghue said the court was extremely worried by the loss of life in the Gaza Strip.
The Court ordered Israel to take “all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide”.
In bringing the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa sought an immediate halt to Israel’s bombardment, which has laid waste to much of the enclave and killed more than 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The court did not grant that.
Israel had asked the court to reject the case outright, saying it respects international law and has a right to defend itself.
However, the court said Israel must prevent its forces from committing genocide and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. It also said Israel must report to the court within a month on what it’s doing to uphold the order.
Israel shelling of Gaza was in the direct response to a cross-border rampage by Hamas on October 7. Israeli officials said 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and 240 taken hostage.
