UN court orders Israel to open more crossings for aid
THE HAGUE, netherlands — the top United nations court on thursday ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in gaza, including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel, and other supplies into the warravaged enclave.
The International Court of Justice issued two new socalled provisional measures in a case brought by south Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its military campaign launched after the oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. Israel denies it is committing genocide. It says its military campaign is self defense and aimed at Hamas, not the palestinian people.
Thursday’s order came after south Africa sought more provisional measures, including a cease-fire, citing starvation in gaza. Israel urged the court not to issue new orders.
In its legally binding order, the court told Israel to take measures “without delay” to ensure “the unhindered provision” of basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies.
It also ordered Israel to immediately ensure that its military does not take action that could that could harm palestinians' rights under the genocide Convention, including by preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The court told Israel to report back in a month on its implementation of the orders.
The UN and international aid agencies say virtually the entire gaza population is struggling to get enough food, with hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of famine, especially in hard-hit northern gaza.
South Africa welcomed Thursday's decision, calling it “significant.”
“The fact that palestinian deaths are not solely caused by bombardment and ground attacks, but also by disease and starvation, indicates a need to protect the group’s right to exist,” the south African president said in a statement.
The palestinian Foreign ministry thanked south Africa, calling the case “a vital step in the global effort to hold Israel accountable for perpetrating genocide.”
The Israeli Foreign ministry had no immediate comment.