Palestinians in Gaza say they are devastated by the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision not to order Israel to stop its bombing and ground invasion of the Strip for nearly four months, in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of having committed genocide.
The World Court on Friday issued a series of interim measures demanding that Israel comply with the 1948 Genocide Convention, allow more humanitarian aid to Gaza and take action against those who issue genocidal statements.
But the court did not order an immediate ceasefire or insist that Israel end all military activity in the Gaza Strip.
Many in Gaza say they are disappointed, but not surprised. They say they do not trust the international community, nor the global justice system, because they have so far failed to stop the bloodshed in the enclave.
More than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7 and some 1.9 million have been internally displaced, according to the United Nations.
Among them is Ahmed al-Naffar, 54, who was attentively following the court announcement outside al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on Friday.
“Even though I don’t trust the international community, I had a small glimmer of hope that the court would rule on a ceasefire in Gaza,” al-Naffar told Tel Aviv Tribune.
His high hopes were dashed when he heard the precautionary rulings that emerged from the court hearing. He refused to listen any further, saying, “The court is a failure.”
This father of six was displaced and is currently taking refuge in the hospital courtyard, with hundreds of other Palestinians.
“It is shocking that, unfortunately, no one can bear to call for a ceasefire. Everyone is watching our annihilation without acting to achieve a serious ceasefire,” he told Tel Aviv Tribune.
“We don’t want help or food. We want a ceasefire, an end to the war and a return to Gaza (city).
“Let them kill us all and relieve us of this torment”
Earlier this month, South Africa asked the ICJ to order an emergency suspension of Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza.
He argued that interim measures are necessary “to protect against further serious and irreparable damage to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention, which continue to be violated with impunity.”
South Africa has filed nine injunctions with the court. Among them was one who would also order Israel to facilitate, not hinder, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Currently, aid arriving in Gaza via the Rafah border crossing meets less than 30 percent of the enclave’s needs, Gaza’s health ministry said. The amount and type of aid is controlled by Israel, which has imposed a complete siege on Gaza since the offensive began.
Al-Naffar said he was particularly disappointed for his wife and five daughters.
“I don’t know what to say to my daughters who were left alone in Gaza City in these frightening conditions,” he said.
He was forced to leave Gaza City when Israeli forces arrested him and his 19-year-old son at their home on November 20. They remained in Israeli custody for 24 hours.
During this period, al-Naffar said, they were interrogated, “severely beaten” and mistreated before finally being released and ordered to head to the southern Gaza Strip.
Al-Naffar called his daughters earlier in the day, promising them that the court’s decision would be “positive and in our favor” and that he would likely stop the assault.
“But I was wrong,” he said. “I feel sad and frustrated. I hope we all die, that they kill us all. Let them drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza and relieve us of this torment. »
Separated from his family, al-Naffar spent most of his day thinking about them and trying to contact them.
“My daughters are alone with their mother. They desperately need me to be by their side in such horrible circumstances.
“No one can stop Israel”
Meanwhile, displaced Palestinian Mohammad al-Minawi said he felt it was useless even to listen to the ICJ’s decision.
The 45-year-old father of five is currently sheltering in a tent outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. He was forced to flee his home in the al-Mughraqa neighborhood, east of Gaza City, when it was attacked.
Like hundreds of thousands of others, he headed south in accordance with instructions from the Israeli army.
“I am not optimistic… Unfortunately, no one can stop Israel,” al-Minawi told Tel Aviv Tribune.
He nonetheless expressed gratitude to South Africa, calling what it did in taking legal action against Israel “unprecedented.” But he added that in his opinion, if other countries remain silent, this approach will be insufficient.
“There is no deterrent for Israel. All international and diplomatic decisions support it, and there is no accountability,” al-Minawi said.
If Israel cared about international law, its forces would not have killed “so many women and children in Gaza and destroyed all our homes,” he said.
“Everyone says ‘we’ll send help.’ Israel is killing us and you are pushing for help? How about providing us with protection.
“We will be exterminated in a month”
Israel has rejected the accusation of genocide and frequently boycotts international tribunals and U.N. investigations, calling them unfair and biased.
The ICJ has asked Israel to submit a report within a month outlining the steps it is taking to show compliance with the interim measures ordered Friday. South Africa will then have the opportunity to respond to this report.
Although Israel will face increased scrutiny over how it carries out its military attack on Gaza, it will not violate the Court’s ruling by continuing its bombing.
“How can we give Israel a full month to submit a report on not targeting civilians? We will all be exterminated during this month,” al-Minawi said.
Several human rights organizations and international bodies have urged Israel to protect civilian life, but the majority of victims in Gaza are innocent women and children, Gaza residents said.
At least 183 people were killed and 377 injured across the enclave in the last 24 hours alone, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Since October 7, Israeli attacks have targeted medical facilities, health workers and ambulances, as well as thousands of internally displaced people sheltered in hospitals and UN-run facilities.
“The whole world approves of our annihilation”
The military assault and blockade of the Gaza Strip has particularly affected pregnant women in Gaza, many of whom have been forced to give birth in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, amid the collapse of the health sector.
Tahrir Sheikh Khalil is one of thousands of pregnant women currently facing a severe lack of food and clean water. She now lives in a tent near the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, with her husband and five children.
Her husband listened to the ICJ judgment on Friday. Shortly before the verdict, Khalil said her husband was “optimistic,” but she was not.
“I’m not optimistic about anything,” the 35-year-old who fled the Shati refugee camp told Tel Aviv Tribune.
Her husband, Hassan Khalil, 40, hoped he would have been able to return to Gaza City “immediately” if the ICJ had ordered an immediate ceasefire.
“We fled to five places before ending up here. First in UNRWA schools in the city center, then in al-Maghazi neighborhood, then in a neighborhood on Maghazi roads, and now we are here in Deir al-Balah,” Tahrir said .
“What is happening will not change our suffering. War, massacres and destruction will continue,” she added.
The couple echoed the sentiments of everyone around them, saying, “We don’t want them to bring help.” » They once again called for a lasting ceasefire.
“We live here in tragic conditions and we cannot continue to live in these conditions,” Hassan said.
“We have no one to support us. No one can stop Israel, no court decisions or UN resolutions. As long as the United States supports Israel, we will continue to suffer,” he said.
The United States has continued to provide military aid that Israel relies on to continue its offensive. The United States has also provided diplomatic support and vetoed several UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“The whole world approves of our annihilation. It’s the sum of things,” Tahrir said.