JOHANNESBURG, Friday, January 26, 2024 (QAFA) – South Africa has commended the ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) urging the occupying state of Israel to take measures to prevent any acts of genocide in Gaza.

The South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that today’s decision by the ICJ represents a “decisive victory for the rule of international law” and a “significant milestone in the quest for justice for the Palestinian people.”

The comments came after the ICJ issued a preliminary decision in the lawsuit brought by South Africa against Israel for committing the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip. The court decided that Israel, the occupying power, must take all measures to prevent actions prohibited by the Genocide Convention and ensure the immediate provision of essential humanitarian needs for Gaza.

Furthermore, the court ordered Israel to refrain from inciting genocide in Gaza and to punish anyone engaging in such actions. Israel was instructed to take measures to prevent the destruction of evidence related to the alleged genocide. The International Court of Justice demanded that Israel submit a report on these measures to the court within one month of the decision.

A significant majority of the 17-judge panel voted in favor of urgent actions, meeting most of South Africa's requests, with the exception of issuing an order to halt the war on Gaza. Chief Justice Joan Donoghue emphasized that South Africa has the right to file the lawsuit, and Israel's request for dismissal was not accepted.

"We have the authority to rule on emergency measures in the case of genocide against Israel," stated Chief Justice Donoghue. The ICJ decision marks a pivotal moment in addressing the allegations of genocide in Gaza, adding further complexity to the ongoing conflict in the region.

M.N