“Nowhere in Gaza is safe … I expect public order to completely break down” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ evidence to the ICJ.
The UN’s highest court ruled last week in the Hague that Israel must take five immediate steps to prevent genocide in Gaza and report back in one month.
The International Court of Justice order for provisional measures published on 26 January 2024 found that the situation in Gaza was so urgent that the State of Israel must take prompt action before the court completes its deliberations. A final ruling could take years. The case alleging the State of Israel’s genocide in Gaza was brought to the ICJ by the Republic of South Africa in December 2023. “Nowhere is Gaza in safe … I expect public order to break down completely” stated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ letter to the court.
The six provisional measures in the order concern preventing harm; ensuring military compliance; punishing incitement to genocide; permitting humanitarian assistance; preserving evidence of genocide and reporting back to the court. All findings were by the majority of the international judges panel or 15-2 or 16-1. The ICJ does not have the power to enforce its orders.
Provisional Measure 1
Israel must prevent the following crimes from happening to Palestinians in Gaza:
- Killing
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm
- Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction in whole or in part
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births
Provisional Measure 2
Israel must ensure its military does not commit anything in point 1.
Provisional Measure 3
. Israel must prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to Palestinians in Gaza.
Provisional Measure 4
. Israel must enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
Provisional Measure 5
. Israel shall prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to allegations of acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Provisional Measure 6
. Israel shall submit a report to the ICJ on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month.
This ruling has given hope to Palestinians that their suffering will not be ignored.
