The Peace Palace in The Hague, that houses the International Court of Justice. (Amith Nag Photography/Getty Images)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday granted South Africa’s request for another emergency order around the Hamas-Israel war, but did not go as far as SA – and some of its judges – had hoped.
While it considers SA’s claim that Israel is engaging in genocide in Gaza, the ICJ previously ordered Israel to preserve the lives of civilians in a way South Africa interpreted to require a ceasefire, and which Israel said left it free to continue its military operation.
In February, SA asked the ICJ to issue further orders ahead of Israel’s planned assault on Rafah, which it declined to do. In early March, SA again asked for additional measures, this time in light of what it said was a famine already taking hold in Gaza.
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