Jan 26, 2024 at 6:34 PM Update: 16 hours ago
The International Court of Justice in The Hague said on Friday that Israel must do more to protect civilians in Gaza and prevent genocide. South Africa, which brought the case, is calling it a victory. The CIDI calls the ruling “very controversial”.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) believes that the Israeli government must take measures to better protect people in Gaza. For example, Israel must prevent and punish calls for genocide. The country must also take “immediate and drastic measures” to improve living conditions in Gaza.
In addition, it must collect evidence of possible wrongdoing. The court therefore asks Israel not to stop the war against Hamas.
The ICJ emphasizes that all parties must comply with international law. That is why the hostages must also be released “immediately and unconditionally”, says chairman Joan Donoghue.
The Center for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI) emphasizes in a message on X that this interim ruling does not mean that Israel has committed genocide. The court will later consider the question of whether Israel has violated the Genocide Convention.
Israel emphasizes that it will continue to facilitate aid
The ICJ’s rulings are legally binding. But the question is whether Israel will take the proposed measures.
In an initial response on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, among other things, that Israel has always done its best to protect and help the residents of Gaza.
“We continue to facilitate humanitarian assistance and do our utmost to spare civilians suffering, even as Hamas uses civilians as human shields,” Netanyahu said.
The EU is counting on Israel to implement the proposed measures “fully, immediately and effectively”, the European Commission and the European Union’s foreign policy chief warn.
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‘Palestine welcomes the ruling’
“Palestine welcomes the ruling of the International Court of Justice,” said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki. He believes that the court has clearly spoken out in favor of the protection of “international law and humanity”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls the court’s decision “a valuable decision”. Erdogan is one of the fiercest critics of Israeli attacks in the region.
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Aid organizations remind the Netherlands of its constitutional obligation
Aid organizations such as Amnesty International and Oxfam Novib also responded positively to the ruling. Amnesty International speaks of a “historic moment”, Oxfam Novib of “a very important day for the people in Gaza”.
Like Doctors Without Borders, they reiterate their call for a ceasefire. In addition, all three point to the constitutional obligation of the Netherlands to promote international law.
Part of the House of Representatives also believes that the outgoing cabinet should urge Israel to comply with the verdict. “We call on the cabinet to hold Israel to the court’s ruling,” says Caspar Veldkamp (NSC), for example.
Outgoing Minister Hanke Bruins Slot (Foreign Affairs) said in an initial response that she will study the consequences of the ruling. She later shared an extensive response from the ministry via X.
It states, among other things: “The Netherlands respects the Court’s ruling, calls for compliance with the ruling and will also do so in bilateral contacts.”
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo previously shared an official response X. “We call on Israel to fully implement the interim measures of the court order.”
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