The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza – including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-ravaged enclave.
The International Court of Justice issued two new so-called provisional measures in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its military campaign launched after the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
Israel denied it was committing genocide and accused South Africa of trying to “undermine Israel's inherent right and obligation to defend its citizens”.
Thursday’s order came after South Africa sought more provisional measures, including a ceasefire, citing starvation in Gaza.
Israel, which had urged the court not to issue new orders, said it places no limits on aid entering Gaza and vowed to “promote new initiatives” to bring in even more assistance.
In its legally binding order, the court told Israel to take measures “without delay” to ensure “the unhindered provision” of basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies.
The ICJ issued its new order against Israel due to “the catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated further, in particular in view of the prolonged and widespread deprivation of food and other basic necessities." https://t.co/xugjv2udan pic.twitter.com/TxEhrKGk0x
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) March 28, 2024
It also ordered Israel to immediately ensure that its military does not take action that could that could harm Palestinians' rights under the Genocide Conventions, including by preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The court told Israel to report back in a month on its implementation of the orders.
Israel declared war in response to a bloody cross-border attack by Hamas on 7 October, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 others taken hostage.
Israel responded with a campaign of airstrikes and a ground offensive that have left over 32,000 Palestinians dead, according to local health authorities.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says roughly two-thirds of the dead are women, children and teens.
Israel says over one-third of the dead are militants, though it has not provided evidence to support the claim and it blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates in residential areas.
The fighting has displaced over 80 percent of Gaza's population, caused widespread damage and has sparked a humanitarian crisis.
The UN and international aid agencies say virtually the entire Gaza population is struggling to get enough food, with hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of famine, especially in hard-hit northern Gaza.
South Africa welcomed Thursday's decision, calling it “significant”.
“The fact that Palestinian deaths are not solely caused by bombardment and ground attacks, but also by disease and starvation, indicates a need to protect the group’s right to exist,” the South African president said in a statement.
Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, said the ruling must be enforced by the international community.
“It must be implemented immediately, so that this decision does not remain a dead letter,” it said.
(with newswires)
