While remaining lent on the question of an immediate ceasefire, the International Court of Justice in The Hague has directed Israel to take actionable steps to prevent acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, President Joan E. Donoghue of the ICJ affirmed the court has jurisdiction to entertain allegations of genocide filed against Israel by South Africa in light of the ongoing war against Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, in Gaza.
But the court failed to order an immediate stop to the military incursion in the Strip, quenching hopes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would give in to international pressure and obey a higher authority to halt the war in the enclave.
Ms Donoghue said it was too early to rule whether or not Israel had violated the provisions of the Genocide Convention but that the court would make a decision as the matter progressed.
“The court is not required to ascertain whether any violations of Israel’s obligations under the Genocide Convention have occurred,” Ms Donoghue stressed on Friday. “That will happen at a later stage of the process.”
Israel had staged a war against the Strip as a retaliatory response to the Hamas invasion that killed and abducted hundreds of civilians, including women and children, on October 7.
The strong support that Israeli authorities enjoyed from allies, including the U.S., at the initial stages of the war has begun to wane, with many global pundits calling for a ceasefire.
Still, it is unclear how the ICJ intends to enforce its judgement and whether or not there would be consequences for disobedience if any at all.
