The International Court of Justice is expected to issue a preliminary decision on Friday regarding a case accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
The United Nations’ top court is set to rule Friday on a call for Israel to halt its military offensive in Gaza, when it issues a preliminary decision in a case accusing Israel of committing genocide in the tiny coastal enclave.
Joan E. Donoghue, president of the International Court of Justice, opened the session to read out the highly anticipated decision made by a panel of 17 judges in a case that goes to the core of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.
In the ruling, which is expected to take about an hour to read out, Donoghue said the court would not throw out the case.
«The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering,» she said.
Friday’s decision, however, is only an interim one; it could take years for the full case brought by South Africa to be considered. Israel rejects the genocide accusation and had asked the court to throw the charges out.
While the case winds its way through the court, South Africa has asked the judges «as a matter of extreme urgency» to impose so-called provisional measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza.
Top of the South African list is a request for the court to order Israel to «immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza.» It is also asking for Israel to take «reasonable measures» to prevent genocide and allow access for desperately needed aid.
In a statement Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said he hoped the decision would «include immediate action to stop the aggression and genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip … and a rapid flow of relief aid to save the hungry, wounded and sick from the threat of slow death that threatens them.
