Written by Leadership News
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has delivered a preliminary ruling on Friday in South Africa’s case alleging genocide by Israel in Gaza, ordering Israel to stop its military campaign.
At a two-day hearing this month, South Africa asked the court to issue provisional measures requiring Israel to immediately end its military campaign in Gaza, which began after the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas militant group.
About 1,200 Israelis, mainly citizens, were killed in the October 7 coordinated attacks, with 240 taken hostage, an estimated 129 of whom are still being held captive. The death toll from the assault on Gaza stands at almost 26,000 – mostly women and children – with a further 7,000 buried under rubble presumed dead. About 85% of the Palestinian territory’s 2.3 million people have been displaced.
The ICJ’s rulings are final and cannot be appealed against, but it has no enforcement powers and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had already said “no one will stop us, not the Hague”.
However, an adverse ruling could lead to sanctions and would put more pressure on Israel’s allies and military backers – including the United States, which previously described the case as “meritless” – to rein it in.
On Thursday, the Israeli government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, voiced confidence about the outcome.
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