‘Historic’: French left-wing MP hails top UN court's Gaza ruling

By Nur Asena Erturk

A French left-wing lawmaker on Friday hailed provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice on Israel's war in the Gaza Strip.

Describing the ruling as “historic,” Mathilde Panot said that the order “clearly established the risk of genocide in the Gaza Strip.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should now "give an account of his war crimes before the international justice," Panot said.

Calling for a cease-fire, she urged signatory countries to the Genocide Convention, including France, to "assume their responsibilities."

South Africa brought a genocide case against Israel to the ICJ earlier this month and asked it to grant emergency measures to end the bloodshed in Gaza, where more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7.

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take "all measures within its power" to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza but fell short of ordering a cease-fire.

The court also ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.