AMN / WEB DESK
In a landmark decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26th Jan 2024, Friday ordered Israel to allow humanitarian access. The top UN court also ruled that Israel must take all measures to ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts which could fall foul of the Genocide Convention.
In a preliminary ruling, the court’s 17-judge panel issued such measures, ordering Israel to take steps to limit the death and destruction caused by its military campaign, as well as to prevent and punish incitement to genocide. However, the court did not pass judgment on whether or not Israel is actually committing genocide in Gaza. It stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by South Africa which has brought the case, accusing Israel of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will continue to defend their citizens while adhering to international law and they will continue this war until absolute victory and until all hostages are returned.
Welcoming the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al-Maliki said ICJ judges ruled in favour of humanity and international law.
The ICJ’s rulings are binding on all parties but it has no mechanism to enforce them.