The ICJ issued interim orders to Israel on Friday in response to its war on Gaza, which some experts believe have limited immediate implications. The court instructed Israel to allow aid into Gaza, prevent acts of genocide, preserve evidence of its actions, and report back to the ICJ within a month. The court also expressed concern over Israelis taken captive by Hamas and demanded their immediate release.
While South Africa claims the instructions are a call for an immediate ceasefire, Israel believes otherwise and plans to continue its three-month-long campaign against Gaza. The ruling may implicate Israel’s allies in Washington, London, and the European Union, potentially leading to legal consequences for their involvement in aiding and abetting genocide.
Following the judgment, Netanyahu rejected the demand to halt the fighting and labeled the court’s consideration of genocide as false and outrageous. Despite the lack of mention of a ceasefire in the court’s ruling, the order has put Israel’s supporters on notice and may impact international cooperation with Israel.
The provisional measures imposed by the ICJ create a formal notice of the risk of genocide in Gaza, triggering the duty of all states to take concrete steps to prevent it, such as ceasing arms sales and exports and other assistance that could facilitate genocidal acts.
Although a definitive ruling in the case may take years, compliance remains an issue. However, this is the first case against a state closely tied to Western powers, potentially leading to legal consequences for their involvement.