The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This includes opening additional land crossings for the delivery of essential supplies.
What happened: The International Court of Justice issued two interim measures against Israel on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. These measures were part of a case brought by South Africa, which accused Israel of genocide in its military campaign following the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Israel, however, denies these accusations and has accused South Africa of undermining its right to defend its citizens.
The Court’s legally binding orders require Israel to take immediate measures to ensure the unhindered delivery of basic services and humanitarian aid, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. Israel is also asked to prevent its military from taking actions that could harm the rights of Palestinians under the Genocide Convention.
Israel was given one month to report on the implementation of these orders.
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South Africa welcomed the decision, calling it “significant”. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also expressed gratitude, describing the case as “a key step in the global effort to hold Israel accountable for perpetrating the genocide.”
“Israel will continue to promote new initiatives and expand existing ones, in order to enable and facilitate the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip… despite operational challenges on the ground and Hamas’ active and abhorrent efforts to commandeer, stockpile and stealing aid,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
Because matter: The recent ICJ ruling comes amid a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The UN has warned that Israel’s actions in Gaza could potentially amount to a war crime, with a “man-made famine” looming in the region.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, the people of Gaza face a severe food crisis, and international aid becomes increasingly vital.
Meanwhile, Israel withdrew its negotiating team from ceasefire talks in Gaza, underscoring the escalation of the conflict and its implications for regional stability.
Despite ongoing hostilities and Israeli military restrictions, the United Nations and international aid groups have worked to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. The ICJ’s recent ruling could potentially impact these efforts and the overall humanitarian situation in the region.
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