The decision of the United Nations Court has come regarding the ‘massacre in the Palestinian city of Gaza’.
South Africa, the country that filed the case, is very happy with this decision. But Israel is also not going to have any problem with this.
Because the top UN court refused on Friday to give an immediate order for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, Israel has been asked to make efforts to prevent loss of life and property.
Earlier, South Africa, which had filed the case, had urged the court to order Israel to stop its military campaign. But the court did not give any such order.
For now the case against Israel will continue
The UN’s top court said it would not dismiss the case in which Israel is accused of genocide in Gaza. In a highly anticipated decision delivered by a bench of 17 judges, the International Court of Justice decided not to dismiss the case.
“The Court is acutely aware of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in the region and is concerned about the continuing loss of life and property,” said Joan E. Donoghue, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Friday’s decision, however, is only an interim order while the full case brought by South Africa could take years to be considered.
Israel has rejected the charge of genocide and had also urged the court to dismiss the charges. South Africa has urged judges to take action to protect Palestinians in Gaza.
The court was also requested to order Israel to “immediately cease its military operations in Gaza.” Israeli government spokesman Ilon Levy said Thursday that Israel hoped the court would dismiss the “sham charges.”
After Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, Israel retaliated with massive air and ground attacks on Gaza, killing about 1,200 people.
The Hamas-run health ministry said Friday that more than 26,000 Palestinians had been killed. The ministry did not distinguish between combatants and civilians in the death toll, but said about two-thirds of those killed included women and children.
The Israeli military claims at least 9,000 of those killed in the nearly four-month conflict are Hamas militants. UN officials have said people are also likely to die from disease and at least a quarter of the population faces starvation.
The verdict proved us right: South African President Ramaphosa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has vindicated his country’s decision to charge Israel with genocide during its military offensive in Gaza.
After the court verdict, Ramaphosa said on national TV on Friday that the ICJ verdict on Friday was “a victory for international law, human rights and, above all, justice.” That according to Article Nine of the (1948 Genocide) Treaty, he has the right to decide on our petition. According to the order given by the ICJ today, this is a case of genocide.
The President said the ICJ decision is an important first step in South Africa’s efforts to secure justice for the people of Gaza.
“Some people told us to mind our own business,” he said. Some said it had nothing to do with us, but being well aware of the pain of dispossession, discrimination and state-sponsored violence, we had something to do with it.”
Ramaphosa thanked the international community for supporting South Africa’s petition to the ICJ.