CAPITALS, Saturday, January 27, 2024 (WAFA) – Arab and Islamic countries and organizations welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case filed by South Africa against Israel, the occupying power, accusing it of committing acts constituting a "genocidal" crime against the people of the Gaza Strip.

Egypt welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling of provisional measures to stop the Israeli genocidal acts against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Ministry confirmed that it was looking forward to a court ruling of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as it ruled in similar cases in order to guarantee the implementation of the necessary and provisional measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian foreign ministry stressed the need to respect and implement the decisions of the Court of Justice; the main judicial body of the United Nations.

The ministry also called on Israel to immediately implement all the measures ruled by the ICJ, which represent the starting points for the implementation of the rules of international law and international humanitarian law regarding the provision of protection for the Palestinian people and putting an end to the attacks and violations committed against them.

Furthermore, Egypt called upon the Security Council and international actors to assume their responsibilities toward demanding a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.

Tunisia’s foreign ministry also expressed great satisfaction with the court's just and fair decision concerning interim measures to be taken in the case brought by South Africa against Israel.

In a statement, the ministry described the ICJ’s ruling as a historic decision and a critical step toward condemning the serious crimes Israel has committed and continues to commit against the Palestinian people. The foreign ministry praised the decision as a victory for justice, the sublime human values and the principles of international law and the UN Charter.

It highlighted the need for action to obligate Israel to halt its wanton and brutal aggression completely and its occupation of the entire Palestinian territory, including lifting the siege on Gaza. It called for prosecuting Israel and ensuring that its heinous crimes against Palestinians do not go unpunished.

Tunisia will present oral arguments at the ICJ on February 23 that fall within the framework of the advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly regarding the legal consequences arising from Israel's ongoing violation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, said the ministry.

Meanwhile, Algeria affirmed that the court’s ruling constitutes the beginning of the end for Israel's decades-long impunity, which it has long used to unleash its oppression against the Palestinian people and the suppression of all their legitimate rights.

The Algerian foreign ministry affirmed in a statement that it is vigorously following up with the court’s interim ruling, which ordered six provisional measures against Israel. Israel must report to the court one month from today.

The ministry stressed that the Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, gave instructions to request the convening of a UNSC meeting as soon as possible with the aim of granting the court’s order a binding force and ensuring the implementation of the six provisional measures.

The Qatari foreign ministry also issued a statement welcoming the court’s interim measures against Israel, particularly taking all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts pursuant to Article II of the Genocide Convention.

It considered the ICJ’s ruling a victory for humanity, the rule of law and international justice.

The Qatari ministry said the vote in favor of the court's ruling by an overwhelming majority of the 17-judge panel reflects the magnitude of the danger of genocide threatening Palestinians in the Strip, which it stressed requires ensuring Israel's compliance with the six provisional measures.

The ministry reiterated Qatar’s unwavering position in support of justice for the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of their independent State within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In the meantime, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hailed the preliminary decision issued by ICJ, which aimed to stop any practices and statements aimed at genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia expressed support for the ICJ ruling against Israel, affirming its categorical rejection of the occupation’s practices and violations of the UN Genocide Convention.

In a statement, the ministry praised the efforts of South Africa, commending the filing of a case regarding Israel’s ongoing violations against Palestinians at the ICJ.

Saudi Arabia stressed the need for the international community to take further measures to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, provide Palestinians with protection and hold Israel accountable for its systematic violations of international law and international humanitarian law.

Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the ICJ decision, stating that though falling short of calling for a ceasefire, it constituted a significant step in moving toward putting an end to the Israeli occupation measures that affected all aspects of life in Gaza.

It emphasized the necessity and importance of complying with the court’s order and respecting all principles of international law, international humanitarian law and UN resolutions that demanded an end to the occupation’s aggression since it started on October 7.

The ministry hailed the historic step taken by South Africa against Israel, reiterating its demand for the international community to pressure the occupation to stop its aggression that has been ongoing for over three months, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties, the majority of whom were children and women.

It called for more resolutely collective actions to reach a ceasefire, reject all displacement operations and ensure the immediate delivery of relief and humanitarian aid to the Strip.

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the court’s ruling, reaffirming the need to stop all hostile military operations that deny access to humanitarian assistance and threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians.

It praised the position and efforts taken by South Africa and its top legal team to take up a case against Israel’s ongoing violations at the ICJ.

Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the court’s decision and stressed the need for Israel to comply with it, affirming the necessity for an immediate end to all forms of Israeli attacks and aggression against the occupied Palestinian territory, including lifting the siege imposed on Gaza and ending its months-long onslaught against it to ensure the safe entry of necessary humanitarian aid.

Oman called on the international community to oblige Israel, the occupying state, to stop its military operations and acts of genocide against the Palestinian people.

It expressed deep appreciation to South Africa for its honorable stance on the side of human rights and justice.

Meanwhile, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the court’s ruling and praised it as a significant opportunity to end the bloodshed in Palestine.

"We will continue to follow the process to ensure that war crimes committed against innocent Palestinian civilians do not go unpunished," Erdogan said on X.

The president described the temporary injunction taken by the International Court of Justice regarding the inhumane attacks in Gaza as "valuable".

Pakistan also welcomed the provisional measures ordered today by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“The implementation of these provisional measures requires an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to bring about an end to the suffering faced by the people of Gaza,” said the Pakistani foreign ministry in a statement.

Pakistan called for the full and effective implementation of the ICJ’s decision so that basic human rights, dignity and identity of the Palestinian people as a distinct group are upheld and protected, as stipulated by the UN Charter, relevant UN resolutions and international law, said the statement.

It reaffirmed its firm support to the Palestinian people in their just and legitimate struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.

“We consider the ICJ’s ruling timely and a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people and for the international accountability of Israel.”

T.R.