The Hague: Israel has been asked by the highest international court of the United Nations to stop a genocide in Gaza and to punish those who encourage such acts. “The state of Israel shall…. take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Genocide convention,” the court ruled, according to Reuters.
Nonetheless, the court refrained from imposing a ceasefire, which was the principal demand made by the plaintiff, South Africa.
Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas has claimed the lives of over 26,000 Palestinians. After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 1200 people, including women and children, were killed. This attack sparked the conflict.
The court today said Israel must take measures to prevent its soldiers from carrying out genocide against the Palestinians. The court said it would not throw out South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.
Israel has called South Africa’s allegations false and “grossly distorted”, and said it makes the utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
“The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering,” Joan E. Donoghue, the court’s president, said.
Israel was ordered by South Africa to “immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza” by the court.
The nation’s plea was rejected by the court, though. It mandates that Israel restrict the number of fatalities and property damage.
In addition, South Africa requested that Israel take “reasonable measures” to stop genocide and permit the delivery of much-needed aid.
Israel must make an effort to minimize harm and fatalities, the court decided.
In a statement Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said he hoped the decision would “include immediate action to stop the aggression and genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip … and a rapid flow of relief aid to save the hungry, wounded and sick from the threat of slow death that threatens them.”
On Thursday, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy had said that Israel expected the court to toss out the “spurious and specious charges.”
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