The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top UN court, issued a preliminary decision on Friday in a case brought by South Africa against Israel regarding its military offensive in Gaza. While the court did not order a ceasefire, it demanded that Israel take steps to contain the human loss and economic damage caused by the offensive. South Africa had requested that the court order an immediate halt to Israel’s operation in Gaza, but the ICJ did not grant this request.
As the court’s decision is only an interim one, the full case brought by South Africa may take years to be considered. Israel denies the genocide accusation and has asked the court to dismiss the charges. During the ongoing ruling, the ICJ emphasized its concern about the tragedy unfolding in the region and the loss of human life and suffering.
In a statement, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh expressed hope that the decision would lead to action to stop the aggression and genocide against people in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israel rejected the charges and sent a high-level legal team to deal with the case, highlighting the country’s serious approach to the issue.
The court may ultimately impose provisional measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza. However, legal experts do not expect the ICJ to order a full ceasefire, as this would be beyond its current scope. How the US, Israel’s top ally, responds to any order will also be crucial, as it has veto power in the UN Security Council. The case is significant for Israel’s national identity, while South Africa’s decision to bring the case is rooted in its history and internal politics.
