THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The United Nations Supreme Court on Friday ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent death, destruction and all other dangers. act of genocide However, the committee stopped short of ordering Jerusalem to halt the military offensive that has devastated the Palestinian enclave.
In a ruling that will put Israel under legal scrutiny for years to come, the court has ruled against Israeli leaders in the South African genocide case, which goes to the heart of one of the world's most intractable conflicts. It couldn't have been more comforting.of the court 6 orders This will be difficult to achieve without some sort of cease-fire or cessation of fighting.
“The Court is acutely aware of the scale of the human tragedy occurring in this region and is deeply concerned by the continued loss of life and human suffering,” said Chief Justice Joan E. Donahue. said.
International Court of Justice President Joan E. Donahue said the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack provoked a massive Israeli response.
The verdict amounted to an overwhelming condemnation of Israel's wartime actions and increased international pressure to halt nearly four months of Israeli attacks. I killed it over 26,000 Palestinians, Vast areas of Gaza were destroyed It forced almost 85% of its 2.3 million people from their homes.
The indictment was a blow to the government of Israel, which was established as a Jewish state after the Nazis massacred six million Jews during World War II.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fact that the court was willing to discuss genocide charges was “a mark of shame that will last for generations.” He vowed to press for war.
of power of judgment Its timing, on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, made its resonance even stronger.
Late Friday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the Supreme Court's ruling is legally binding and the order includes a directive that Israel “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts of destruction. He emphasized that he “trusts” them to follow the instructions. Palestinian people.
“What really needs to be brought to justice are those who murdered and kidnapped children, women and the elderly,” said former Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz, referring to Hamas militants. attacked an Israeli community The October 7th attack that started the war. The violence left around 1,200 people dead and another 250 kidnapped.
The court also called on Hamas to release the hostages it still holds. Hamas called on the international community to force Israel to implement the court's order.
Many of the measures were approved by an overwhelming majority of judges. Of the six orders, Israeli judges voted in favor of two. One was a humanitarian aid order and the other was a prevention of inflammatory speech.
Israeli Judge Aharon Barak said these measures would “help de-escalate tensions and deter harmful rhetoric” while mitigating “the consequences of armed conflict against the most vulnerable people.” He said he supports the order.
Although such interim measures issued by the World Court are legally binding, it is unclear whether Israel will comply with them.
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the ruling in two languages, saying, “We will continue to do what is necessary to protect our country and protect our people.'' In his message to domestic audiences, he took on a more defiant tone in Hebrew and stopped short of openly criticizing the court in English.
The court ruled that Israel must do everything it can to prevent genocide, including not harming or killing Palestinians. The court also ruled that Israel should urgently obtain basic aid to Gaza and that Israel should take other measures, including punishing incitement to genocide.
The committee asked Israel to submit a report on the measures it has taken within one month.
“Then the courts may come back and say, 'You did not comply with the order.' You did not comply. Now we find you in the midst of committing genocide. '' said Mary Ellen O'Connell, professor of law and international peace studies at the Kroc Institute at the University of Notre Dame.
Friday's decision was a preliminary ruling.It could take years for courts to consider all aspects. south africa Suspicion of genocide.
In Israel, commentators said the decision not to issue a cease-fire order was received with some comfort because it helped Israel avoid a conflict with the top UN body.
Palestinians and their supporters said the court took an important step in holding Israel accountable. The foreign ministry of the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank said the verdict “should serve as a wake-up call to Israel and its entrenched actors who have enabled impunity” and clearly He said he was referring to the United States, the country's main ally. .
The US reiterates its position that Israel must “take all possible steps” to minimize harm to civilians, expand humanitarian aid and suppress “inhuman speech.” Ta.
“We continue to believe that the allegations of genocide are unfounded,” the State Department said in a statement.
The South African government said the ruling determined that “Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip are likely to constitute genocide.''
“There is no credible basis for Israel to continue to insist that its military actions are fully compliant with international law,” the government said in a statement.
Israel often boycotts international tribunals and UN investigations, calling them unfair and biased. But this time, I took the unusual step of sending it. High-level legal team –This shows how seriously you are taking this incident.
of Ministry of Public Health In the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the death toll does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but authorities said about two-thirds of those killed were women and children.
The Israeli military claims that at least 9,000 of the more than 26,000 people killed were Hamas fighters.
U.N. officials have expressed concern that at least a quarter of Gaza's population could die from disease and malnutrition. facing hunger.
Yuval Shani, a law professor at the Hebrew University and a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, said the court's ruling was “not as bad as Israel feared” and fundamentally changes the way the military conducts wars. He said it was not.
“My biggest fear was that the court would ask Israel to stop the war,” Shani said, calling the decision “tolerable for Israel.”
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Cassart reported from Brussels. Associated Press reporters Joseph Federman and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem. Gerald Imlay of Cape Town, South Africa. Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
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