Watan-The decisions of the International Court regarding the Gaza war, which were issued as part of its ruling on Friday, received widespread praise from many world leaders despite not including a decision to cease the Gaza war and thus end the ongoing tragedy for more than 112 days.
On Friday, the International Court issued its decision to accept the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israeli occupation, accusing it of committing acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip. The court ordered Israel to take measures to prevent genocide in Gaza and direct incitement to it.
The court rejected the Israeli request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by South Africa, with a significant majority of the 17-judge court committee voting in favor of urgent measures, meeting most of the demands of the plaintiff state, except for ordering a cessation of the war on Gaza.
Today’s ruling is a huge defeat for #Israel. ICJ rules that Israel is credibly accused of potentially Genocidal acts against #Palestinians, Israel must now act to ensure that Palestinians are no longer at risk of harm+Genocidal acts. Nations facilitating Israel’s War must stop… pic.twitter.com/AHtkJFpDC4
— Mick Wallace (@wallacemick) January 26, 2024
Key decisions of the International Court in the Gaza war lawsuit include:
- Israel must take all possible measures to prevent acts within the scope of Article 2 of the Genocide Convention.
- The court recognizes the right of Palestinians in Gaza to protection from acts of genocide.
- All conditions are met for imposing temporary measures on Israel.
- Israel is committed to avoiding all actions related to killing, aggression, and destruction against the residents of Gaza.
- Israel must ensure the immediate provision of urgent humanitarian needs in the sector.
- Israel must submit a report to the court within a month regarding all temporary measures.
- Israel must immediately ensure that its army does not commit the previously mentioned violations.
Reactions to the International Court’s decisions
Notably, many world leaders commended the court’s decisions, with South Africa, the plaintiff, leading the praise. South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor described the ruling as a “decisive victory for the rule of law and a significant turning point in the pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people.” However, she expressed the desire for the court’s decision to include a ceasefire in Gaza.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will this afternoon, 26 January 2023, address the nation on the International Court of Justice order.
The President will address the nation as follows: ⁰Time: 17h00⁰Date: Friday 26 February 2024 @PresidencyZA will live stream the proceedings. pic.twitter.com/hs8cD28fXv— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) January 26, 2024
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Hamas’s Position
Hamas’s political bureau chief, Sami Abu Zuhri, praised the court’s decision, considering it an important development that contributes to isolating Israel and exposing its crimes in Gaza.
بيان| قطر ترحب بالتدابير المؤقتة الصادرة عن محكمة العدل الدولية بشأن منع الإبادة الجماعية في غزة#الخارجية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/aDAP7caJD4
— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) January 26, 2024
Qatar and Saudi Arabia also welcomed the International Court’s decision, emphasizing its significance for humanity, the rule of law, and international justice.
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن ترحيب المملكة العربية السعودية بالقرار الابتدائي الصادر عن محكمة العدل الدوليّة، والرّامي إلى وقف أيّة ممارسات وتصريحات تهدف إلى الإبادة الجماعية بحق الشعب الفلسطيني في قطاع غزة المحاصر pic.twitter.com/DbfzKcicew
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) January 26, 2024
Turkish and Omani Praise for the Decision
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan commended the temporary judicial decision of the International Court, emphasizing the importance of the decision in ending Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Uluslararası Adalet Divanında Gazze’deki insanlık dışı saldırılarla ilgili alınan ihtiyati tedbir kararını değerli buluyor, memnuniyetle karşılıyorum.
Filistinli masum sivillere yönelik işlenen savaş suçlarının cezasız kalmaması için sürecin takipçisi olmayı sürdüreceğiz.…
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) January 26, 2024
Oman also emphasized the importance of the International Court’s decisions and called for compliance with them, lifting the blockade on Gaza, and an immediate cessation of all Israeli aggression against Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories.
#عاجل | القيادي في حركة حماس سامي أبو زهري لشهاب: قرار محكمة العدل الدولية هو تطور مهم يسهم في عزل الاحتلال وفضح جرائمه في غزة، وندعو لإلزام الاحتلال تنفيذ قرارات المحكمة pic.twitter.com/md6bsC6QAJ
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) January 26, 2024
Why the joy over the International Court’s decision despite not ruling on a ceasefire?
The renowned Egyptian writer Jamal Sultan summed up the answer to this question in a tweet, stating: “Excuse anyone who hoped for stronger decisions from the International Court. We are a grieving nation, living in constant tragedy, with heartbreaking scenes.”
#بيان | تابعت وزارة الخارجية قرار محكمة العدل الدولية في لاهاي والذي صدر اليوم في الدعوى التي تقدمت بها جمهورية جنوب أفريقيا ضد دولة الاحتلال الاسرائيلي حول خرق إسرائيل الواضح والمتعمد والواسع النطاق لالتزاماتها القانونية والانسانية لاتفاقية منع الإبادة الجماعية والمعاقبة عليها. pic.twitter.com/fvPVVUNgrB
— وزارة الخارجية (@FMofOman) January 26, 2024
He stressed that these emotions should not divert our minds from the value of this historic judgment, describing it as a “victory for a historically pampered state, which has always presented itself as the victim of genocide and blackmailed everyone with it, but today finds itself accused of genocide.”
Sultan pointed out that the acceptance of the lawsuit by the International Court and the rejection of Israel’s request to prevent its acceptance “completely exposed the occupation from the historical victim’s cloak.”
He also noted that the court’s decisions, including an immediate cessation of killing and the entry of aid, reflect the severity of the genocide looming over the Palestinians in Gaza, necessitating the enforcement of the temporary measures approved by the court.
In conclusion, Jamal Sultan considered what happened today as unimaginable a few months ago, emphasizing that it is a new temporary victory added to the political, legal, humanitarian, and ethical victories achieved by the Palestinian resistance globally through its legendary steadfastness.
The International Court began hearings on the case filed by South Africa against Israeli occupation on January 11, 2024, and the second session took place after 112 days of a destructive war waged by Israel against Gaza, resulting in the death of more than 25,900 people and the injury of 64,110 according to the Ministry of Health in the besieged territory.