Nawaf Salam, president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), stated on Friday that Israel's response to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has been insufficient since the court's earlier judgment. According to Salam, the ongoing situation in the enclave is not being sufficiently addressed by the interim measures that were mandated by the court in March.
ICJ Ruling and Deteriorating Situation in Gaza
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) President Nawaf Salam announced on Friday that the situation in Gaza has deteriorated since the court's previous order for Israel to urgently address the humanitarian crisis there. Salam stated that the provisional measures ordered by the court in March did not adequately address the current situation in the enclave.
South Africa's Request and Accusations Against Israel
The ICJ ruling pertained to a request from South Africa urging the court to instruct Israel to halt its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and withdraw from the enclave, accusing Israel of genocide. The court, consisting of 14 permanent judges from various countries and an additional ad hoc judge appointed by Israel, convened in The Hague to deliberate on the matter.
Outside the courtroom, pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied, advocating for a free Palestine.
Israel has consistently rejected accusations of genocide, asserting that its actions in Gaza are self-defense measures targeting Hamas militants responsible for attacking Israel. A government spokesperson reiterated Israel's commitment to protecting its citizens and combating Hamas in Gaza.
The recent Israeli assault on Rafah resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, disrupting aid access and exacerbating the risk of famine in the enclave.
South Africa implored the ICJ to impose emergency measures to halt Israel's attacks on Rafah and safeguard the Palestinian population. While ICJ rulings are legally binding, they lack enforcement mechanisms.
A ruling against Israel could escalate diplomatic tensions for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor filed for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders, alleging crimes such as extermination and deliberate attacks on civilians.
Israel vehemently denied these charges and urged its allies to reject the ICC's jurisdiction. Meanwhile, South Africa's broader case at the ICJ accuses Israel of orchestrating genocide against Palestinians, a claim the court has yet to conclusively rule on.
Previous ICJ rulings mandated Israel to prevent genocide acts against Palestinians and facilitate aid access to Gaza but stopped short of ordering a cessation of military operations.
The conflict in Gaza originated from Hamas-led militant incursions into Israeli territories, resulting in casualties and hostilities on both sides. The toll of the conflict, according to Israeli and Gaza health ministry figures, underscores the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing crisis.