THE HAGUE, Netherlands (Daily Point) — On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made a preliminary decision to proceed with a genocide case against Israel concerning its military offensive in Gaza.
South Africa initiated the case earlier this month, seeking emergency measures to cease the ongoing conflict that has resulted in the death of over 26,000 Palestinians.
Joan E. Donoghue, the president of the ICJ, announced the highly awaited decision, which emphasized that Israel must take all possible measures to prevent acts falling under Article II of the Genocide Convention. In a comprehensive ruling, the majority of the 17-judge panel voted in favor of urgent measures, addressing most of South Africa’s requests. Notably, the court did not order a halt to Israeli military actions in Gaza.
The ICJ mandated Israel to refrain from any actions that could be classified under the genocide convention and instructed the country to ensure its troops avoid committing genocidal acts in Gaza. The key points of the ICJ ruling include:
- The court confirmed its jurisdiction in the case.
- Israel is ordered to implement measures preventing acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
- Israel is required to prevent and punish incitement to genocide in the Gaza Strip.
- Humanitarian aid must be allowed in the Gaza Strip by Israel.
- While Israel is obligated to take additional measures to protect Palestinians, the court did not mandate the cessation of military operations in the Gaza Strip.
This decision by the ICJ addresses a critical aspect of one of the world’s longstanding conflicts and sets the stage for further legal proceedings.
