Top UN court indicates additional measures in genocide case against Israel

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday indicated additional provisional measures, including "unhindered provision" of aid to Gaza, in the ongoing genocide case against Israel upon South Africa's request.

"The catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated further," said the ICJ order, referring to the change in the situation since its interim ruling on Jan. 26.

South Africa filed a case at the ICJ in late 2023, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the 1948 Genocide Convention. It requested on March 6 for additional provisional measures based on the change in the situation.

The ICJ said it indicated new measures since the provisional measures indicated in the earlier order "do not fully address the consequences arising from the changes in the situation."

Since Jan. 26, “the catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated further, in particular in view of the prolonged and widespread deprivation of food and other basic necessities to which the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been subjected,” the court said.

The UN court reaffirmed the earlier measures, and called on Israel to "take all necessary and effective measures to ensure 'unhindered provision' of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care to Palestinians throughout Gaza including by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points and maintaining them open for as long as necessary.”

It also ordered Israel to ensure with immediate effect that its military “does not commit acts which constitute a violation of any of the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza as a protected group under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, including by preventing, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance.”

The court also asked Israel to submit a report on measures taken on the latest order within one month.​​​​​​​