Saturday 19 / July / 2025
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and do more to help civilians.
The court ruled on South Africa's request for "provisional measures" against Israel amid claims of state-led genocide in its war against Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
It stopped short of ordering a cease-fire as requested by South Africa.
"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," Court President Joan Donoghue, who read the court's ruling, said.
The judge said that, in the court's view, at least some of Israel's actions in Gaza brought forward by South Africa fell within the provisions of the UN's Genocide Convention.
Donoghue said the court could not "accede to Israel's request that the case be removed from the general list."
What was the court asked to decide?
The Hague-based court was asked to rule on nine measures, including an order compelling Israel to suspend its military operations in Gaza.
The ruling did not deal with South Africa's core accusation in the case as to whether Israel is committing genocide in the Palestinian enclave. Instead, the measures sought by South Africa were intended to "protect against further... harm to the rights of the Palestinian people" under the Genocide Convention.
The provisional measures requested by South Africa were essentially requests to be put in place before a final ruling on the main case, which could take years.
While the ICJ's rulings are binding on all parties, it has no mechanism to enforce them.
