The International Court of Justice (ICJ), whose rulings are binding on Israel, has ordered the Israeli government to do so as a precautionary measure take the necessary measures to prevent the Israeli state or army from committing an act amounting to genocide. The 17-judge court made the decision after rejecting Israel's request to dismiss the genocide case. Other measures have also been announced, none of which include a commitment to ending hostilities in Gaza, which is South Africa's main demand.
The President of the United Nations' highest judicial body read out this Friday the first statement on the urgent measures against Israel demanded by South Africa. whom he accuses of “genocide”. in the Gaza Strip, a verdict that received widespread attention worldwide. He announced this right at the beginning did not deny the accusation.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague in the Netherlands, did not order Israel to stop its military offensivewhich was initiated after the attack by the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7 in the south of the Hebrew state or which facilitates the arrival of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian enclave.
Judge Joan Donoghue, center, speaks during the session. Photo: APThe court's president, Joan E. Donoghue, began the session to read the highly anticipated decision around the world a 17-member jury in a case that points to the core of one of the conflicts most difficult solution in the world.
In judgment Reading took about an hourDonoghue said that the ICJ will not dismiss the case.
“The court is fully aware of this the scale of human tragedy “We are deeply concerned about the ongoing loss of life and suffering,” the judge said.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague in the Netherlands, could have ordered Israel to stop its military offensive, after the attack by the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7 in the south of the Hebrew state or to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian enclave.
The South African delegation to the Court of Justice. Photo: EFESouth Africa filed an emergency complaint with the International Court of Justice in December, arguing that Israel violated the Convention for the Prevention of Genocidesigned in 1948, after the Holocaust.
During the hearings, Adila Hassim, one of the South African lawyers, stated that “genocides are never declared in advance, but…” This court has the last 13 weeks of evidence“that justify a credible accusation of genocide.”
Netanyahu: “Nobody will stop us”
The case caused Violent reactions in Israel. “The world is upside down,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ““No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil” declared on January 14th.
“If there are acts that can be described as genocide, then they were committed against Israel,” Israeli lawyer Tal Becker said at the hearings.
The International Court of Justice, which deals with disputes between countries, issues binding and unappealable decisions, But There is a lack of resources to ensure its applicationwhen he unsuccessfully ordered Russia to halt its operations in Ukraine.
The Israeli delegation in The Hague. Photo: EFEIn Latin America there is a list of left-wing ruled countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia and Venezuela. supported the South African initiative before the International Court of Justice against Israel.
For their part, Mexico and Chile appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate probable war crimes in the context of the conflict, which, in the words of Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren, were “committed by both Israelis and Palestinians.”
Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the most active Latin American leader in calling for a ceasefire, accused Israel of “acts of terrorism” and his government decided to support South Africa “in view of the flagrant violations of international humanitarian law.”
A binding opinion, but only of moral value
But Brazil is aware that even if the International Court of Justice orders Israel to stop its offensive, The statement would above all have a “moral and political” valueexplained Roberto Goulart Menezes, professor of international relations and coordinator of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Brasilia.
“It is conceivable that a court order will be issued have no significant impact in the Israeli military operation,” said Cecily Rose, a professor of international law at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
But if the ICJ, as a neutral third party, were to determine that there is a risk of genocide in Gaza, “It will be much more difficult for a country to continue to support Israel”said Juliette McIntyre, an international law expert at the University of South Australia.
The countries that most supported the case before the International Court of Justice were those with a Muslim majority, including Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Maldives.
A verdict that associates Israel with possible acts of genocide would also have an “enormous” symbolic effect given the history of the Jewish state, emphasized the international law expert.
According to an AFP report based on official Israeli data, the war broke out on October 7 with the invasion of Islamist commandos who killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped about 250 in southern Israel.
According to the territory's Ministry of Health, retaliation with incessant bombings and ground operations in Gaza have so far claimed at least 26,083 lives, mostly women, children and teenagers.
Hamas announced on Thursday that it would abide by a ceasefire if the International Court of Justice orders it and “if the enemy does so too.”
With agency information