The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has once more instructed Israel to take further actions to safeguard civilians in Gaza and ease the difficult situation in the coastal area where Israeli forces are clashing with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The court has directed Israel to make it easier for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, emphasizing that there are no alternatives to using land crossings for supplies. It has also stated that Israel must refrain from actions that violate the rights of Palestinians in Gaza.
This recent ruling from the United Nations high court comes in response to a request from South Africa, which sought additional measures following the initial January decision that did not improve the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
In this recent order, the ICJ observed that the situation has deteriorated since January.
In the order, the Court expressed sorrow over the further decline in the dire living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since January, especially due to the ongoing and widespread lack of food and other essential items.
The state of Palestine at the U.N. expressed in a statement that Israel must fully comply with the order, emphasizing its binding nature. post on X, formerly Twitter, that “Israel has to fully cooperate” with the order, noting that it was binding.
South Africa brought a case to the ICJ near the end of 2023, accusing Israel of genocide in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 32,000 people, and the area is experiencing a severe food crisis.
Israel has denied these allegations and asserts its right to self-defense following a Hamas incursion into southern Israel on Oct. 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken, with around 100 hostages still in Gaza.
The ICJ case may take several years to reach a resolution on the matter of whether Israel is committing genocide, but the court took preliminary action in January at the request of South Africa.
These preliminary measures include preventing the killing of civilians, facilitating humanitarian aid, and punishing those advocating for genocide.
In February, Israel provided a report detailing the steps it has taken to comply with these court orders.
The ICJ has also called for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The U.N. Security Council has separately called for a cease-fire in Gaza for the remainder of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which will last for another two weeks, and for the release of the hostages.
