UK advocacy group welcomes ICJ's provisional measures, 'watershed moment'

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) on Friday welcomed the interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa's genocide case against Israel, but said an immediate cease-fire in Gaza is still needed.

"Whilst ICJP believes the ICJ should have issued an order for an immediate ceasefire, we believe that the provisional measures are a significant and positive step in holding Israel accountable for its potential acts of genocide," the UK-based NGO said in a statement.

Saying that states now have a "clear legal obligation" to avoid complicity in "Israel’s acts of genocide," the ICJP stated this includes the UK, which decided in December not to suspend arms exports to Tel Aviv.

On Dec. 8, the ICJP was part of a collection of UK civil society groups that wrote to the UK government to request the halting of arms exports to Israel.

The ICJ has ordered Israel to take "all measures within its power" to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, but fell short of ordering a truce.

Tayab Ali, the director of the ICJP, said "accountability has begun," with the ruling.

"The carte blanche that Israel has waved carefree as it commits acts of genocide has finally been torn up by the ICJ," he added.

Saying that if Israel continues to act in the same way, it will fail to meet a single one of the provisional measures set out so far, Ali noted that what happens next is a "true test" for the international order and the upholding of a rules-based system of accountability.

"This truly is a watershed moment, but this flicker of hope must be protected from Israel’s bluff and buster in its desperate attempts to shirk accountability," he said.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas which Tel Aviv says killed 1,200 people.

At least 26,083 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 64,487 injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

In its response to the ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's commitment to international law is "unwavering," and "equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people."