The death toll from the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip exceeded 26,000 on Friday, as the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to “prevent and punish any possible act of genocide”, but did not not demanded a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
Hamas’ health ministry said** 26,083 people have been killed and more than 64,400 injured since October 7,** the day militants from the territory launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking someone hostage 250 people.
South Africa accused Israel of genocide and asked the World Court in The Hague, Netherlands, to impose provisional measures in the context of the case. The requested measures included ordering Israel to stop its offensive, to allow Gaza residents to access humanitarian aid and take “reasonable measures” to prevent genocide.
Israel has denied committing genocide and asked the Court to give up of the case, what the panel of 17 judges refused to do.
A decision favorably received
In the occupied West Bank, in Ramallah, the Palestinian authorities welcomed this interim ruling by the International Court ordering Israel to punish and prevent genocide in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Friday’s order by the International Court of Justice was seen as a crushing rebuke of Israel’s conduct in the war, which is in its fourth month. The Court ordered Israel to submit a report within a month to show that it has complied with the Court’s ruling.
“States now have a clear legal obligation to end Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza and to ensure that they are not complicit“, declared the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.
The order of the World Court “should serve as a wake-up call to Israel and the actors who enabled its impunity” said the ministry, which is part of the Palestinian Authority, an autonomous government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Authority and Hamasan Islamic militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, are bitter political rivals.
Israel has vehemently denied allegations that he committed genocide in Gaza.
Israel’s request rejected
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would continue to do “what is necessary” to defend itself after the highest UN court issued a ruling harshly criticizing Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The International Court of Justice, whose seat is in The Hague (Netherlands), has taken six provisional measures against Israell, as a panel of 17 judges considers the charges of genocide brought against the country by South Africa.
Friday, Court rejected Israel’s request to divest of the affair. Benjamin Netanyahu rejected accusations of genocide by calling them of “scandalous” and pledged to continue the war.
“We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and our people,” he said..”
“Israel’s commitment to international law is unwavering. Our sacred commitment to continue defending our country and our people is equally unwavering“added the Israeli leader.
