THE HAGUE: Judges from the UN will make a decision on Friday about South Africa’s request for emergency measures against Israel, which the World Court has accused of committing state-led genocide in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will rule on Friday, but it will not address the main charge in the case, which is whether or not genocide took place. Instead, it will concentrate on South Africa’s urgent request for intervention.
An quick end to Israel’s military campaign, which has destroyed much of the enclave and killed over 25,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities, is one of the things that South Africa demanded.
Israel has requested an outright rejection of the case by the court. On Thursday, a representative for the Israeli government stated that they anticipate the UN’s highest court to “throw out these spurious and specious charges”.
Two weeks ago, South Africa said that Israel’s military and aerial assault was intended to cause “the destruction of the population” in Gaza.
Israel disputes the charges, claiming it is entitled to self-defense and upholds international law.
After Hamas terrorists went on a cross-border rampage on October 7, Israel declared war on Gaza. Israeli sources claimed that 240 individuals were taken captive and that 1,200 people, largely civilians, had died.
Only the question of whether to impose interim measures and whether there is a reasonable chance that Israel’s operation violates international law will be decided by the panel of 17 judges.
The court’s session is scheduled to begin at 1 pm (1200 GMT) and should conclude in approximately one hour.
Nine emergency measures, which function as a restraining order until the court hears the case in its entirety—which may take years—have been requested by South Africa.
Pretoria requests that the court put an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza, allowing for the inflow of further humanitarian supplies and enabling Israel to look into and prosecute any potential infractions.
If the court determines it has jurisdiction at this point in the dispute, it may impose its own orders in addition to being free to reject South Africa’s demands.
