The International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided on Friday that the “perilous situation” in the Gaza strip does not demand further provisional measures beyond those already in place.
On January 26, the ICJ ordered Israel to “take all measures” to limit the death and destruction caused by its military campaign, prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and ensure access to humanitarian aid. This was in response to South Africa previously accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, which Israel has denied.
The ICJ’s Friday decision is in response to an urgent request from South Africa asking the court to consider whether the escalating situation in Rafah — where millions of Palestinians have sought shelter from nonstop bombardment across the territory — calls for additional provisional measures.
Subsequently, Israel’s lawyers filed a series of statements in which they argued that “the provisional measures already indicated by the Court cover the situation of hostilities in Gaza as a whole.”
The ICJ decided the measures were sufficient, noting their decision accounted for the recent developments in Rafah.
Reacting to the latest urgent request at the ICJ, Israel accused South Africa of trying to deny Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens.
“South Africa’s legally and factually unfounded submission proves once again that it is the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Lior Haiat, Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson, said Wednesday.
