THE HAGUE (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday issued new provisional measures for the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian situation in bombarded and besieged Gaza continues to deteriorate.
The World Court issued the new order in response to a recent request made by South Africa, which submitted a case in December accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The ICJ provisional measures state that Israel, “given, the worsening conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza, in particular the spread of famine and starvation”, shall take “all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza.”
The measures outline that the required aid includes food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care.
The fresh ICJ order also calls on Israel, as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, to undertake those measures, “including by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points and maintaining them open for as long as necessary.”
Additional measures call for Israel to ensure “with immediate effect that its military does not commit acts which constitute a violation of any of the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza as a protected group” under the Genocide Convention.
This includes “by preventing, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance,” according to the ICJ.
The court also decided that Israel shall submit a report to the ICJ on all measures within one month.
