UN special rapporteur welcomes ICJ decision in genocide case, but laments no order on cease-fire

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) – A UN special rapporteur on Friday welcomed a decision of the UN court on Israel's onslaught on Gaza, but lamented that it did not call for a cease-fire.

The "(International Court of Justice) ICJ has ruled. Almost exactly as I predicted a while ago. No cease fire and many other provisional measures granted," Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, said on X. "I applaud the court but ask: how many deaths will now continue until the risk of genocide becomes actual one?"

Rajagopal was referring to his previous post in which he said: "ICJ is likely to find it hard to order ceasefire. It did order a cease fire in the case brought by Ukraine against Russia which has not been complied with."

The ICJ ordered Israel to take "all measures within its power" to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, where it has killed more than 26,000 people since the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion.

South Africa, which brought the case, had asked the court for provisional measures against Israel.