– The court is aware of the human tragedy, and is deeply concerned about the loss of life in Gaza, said judge Joan E. Donoghue. This is what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demands in the genocide case against Israel: The State of Israel must, in line with the Genocide Convention, introduce all measures to prevent a genocide Israel must ensure that the actions of the Israeli military do not violate the Genocide Convention Israel must prevent and punish directly and public calls for genocide Israel must immediately ensure more humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza Israel must deliver a report within one month on what measures they have taken to prevent a possible genocide Hamas and other militias must release the hostages The Court concludes almost unanimously that there is a danger of genocide in Gaza. – Some of Israel’s actions seem to be able to fall under the Genocide Convention, said Donoghue. The Court therefore requires interim measures until the final judgment comes, which may take several years. The judges of the ICJ sit in the courtroom in The Hague in the Netherlands. Photo: AP Read the entire decision here. I think the debts are baseless – The Palestinian Authority asks the international community to ensure that the decision is respected, said Foreign Minister Riad Malki. The EU also requests that both Israel and Hamas fulfill the demands of the court as soon as possible. To Reuters, Hamas calls the measure “an important development”, but has so far not commented on the demand they have received to release the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks something completely different: – Israel is fighting a just war without parallel, he says in a statement, and calls the decision from the ICJ “scandalous”. The US Department of State confirms that they still believe the genocide accusations against Israel are groundless. According to Reuters, the South African government calls the decision “an important victory for international law”. But the minister for international relations, who was present in the courtroom, is not only positive: – Without a ceasefire, the demand for the court will not work. Protesters around the world have said that Israel is guilty of genocide in Gaza. Photo: AFP No ceasefire The court obliges Israel to protect Palestinians, and to limit death and destruction in Gaza. They still did not demand a ceasefire, as South Africa proposed and Norway supports. Several people in Gaza had gathered here to follow the broadcast from The Hague. Photo: Jebril Abu kmeil / news In southern Gaza, lawyer Fawas Al-Kalidi and several others gathered to follow the decision on television. But Al-Kalidi is not celebrating yet. – As victims of the brutal aggression towards our people, I looked forward to an interim ceasefire, he told news’s team in Gaza. Fawaz Al-Kalidi believes that human rights do not exist because there was no demand for a ceasefire today. Photo: Jebril Abu kmeil / news – Today the world declares that there is neither international law nor human rights. That there was no ceasefire does not surprise international law researcher and professor at UiO Geir Ulfstein. – The court must decide on charges of genocide, not how legally the Israeli self-defense operates. It limits what the court can reach, says Ulfstein. – It is very important what the court comes to, says international law researcher Geir Ulfstein. Photo: Johan Moen / news – All countries are obliged Israel is obliged under international law to follow what the court decides, but there is still a chance that they will not follow through on the measures. The ICJ also cannot punish Israel for not complying with the requirement. But so far they have taken part in the negotiations and not rejected the ICJ, reminds Ulftstein. The British lawyer Malcolm Shaw is one of those who defends Israel. Here in the initial hearing about two weeks ago. Photo: Reuters – And the decision will put greater pressure on Israel. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) says that limiting military activity and increasing humanitarian efforts in Gaza is something Norway has demanded since October. He emphasizes that Israel and all countries must adhere to the decision of the ICJ. Espen Barth Eide says the ICJ’s decision is similar to the one Norway has defended since October. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB – All countries on the globe are obliged to look at whether they themselves contributed to a potential genocide in Gaza. Norway must also do that, he says. For example, there are countries that contribute with arms exports to Israel and indirectly contribute to a possible genocide. It is South Africa that has complained about Israel to the UN Court of Justice. Just under two weeks ago, the case was heard in the Peace Palace in The Hague. South Africa’s Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola (left) and South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela (right) in the courtroom of the Peace Palace in The Hague. Photo: AFP South Africa then presented the argument that Israel is guilty of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, where approximately 26,000 people have been killed since 7 October according to the health authorities in Gaza. For its part, Israel argued that the actions were carried out in self-defence.
ttn-69