ICJ Orders Israel to Limit Gaza Deaths, Stops Short of Calling for Ceasefire
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to prevent possible acts of genocide by its forces in Gaza but declined to call for a ceasefire.
The Ruling: Finding some of the genocide claims against Israel to be “plausible,” the ICJ ordered Israel to “ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts” that could violate the United Nations’ Genocide Convention. ICJ judges said their interim order was necessary because “the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is at serious risk of deteriorating further before the court renders its final judgement.”
Global Reactions: South Africa’s government called the ruling “a decisive victory for international rule of law.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed Israel’s “unwavering” commitment to both international law and the defense of the Israeli people, but said the “vile attempt to deny Israel” the right to defend itself “is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state.”
For Context: South Africa brought the case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza in early January. Deaths reported by the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry topped 26,000 on Friday — over 1% of Gaza’s pre-war population.
How the Media Covered It: Some left-leaning regional outlets sympathetic to Palestinians, like Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias) and Haaretz (Lean Left bias), had live coverage of the ICJ’s order. Right-rated outlets were more likely to note that the order was issued on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day. While most coverage quoted Israel’s response, right-rated outlets appeared less likely to quote Palestinian reactions.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
World Court says Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/FMJQ7U4RMFK5JGCB7VILJRFPEE.jpg?itok=cTcAfgH4)
The World Court on Friday ordered Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, but it stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Ruling on a case brought by South Africa, the court said Israel must ensure its forces did not commit genocide and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians in the enclave.
In the ruling, 15 of the 17 judges on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) panel voted for emergency measures...
From the Left
U.N. Court Says Israel Must Prevent Genocidal Acts in Gaza, But Doesn’t Order a Ceasefire![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/AP24026462270880.jpg?itok=4etPzZ7C)
The world watched closely as a panel of 17 judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—the highest court of the United Nations—heard arguments earlier this month over whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, in a case brought forward by South Africa. Today, in a landmark interim order, the court determined that South Africa has legal standing and ordered Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide.
Justice Joan E. Donoghue, the presiding judge of the ICJ, began a public sitting at the...
From the Right
Court of Justice Stops Short of Genocide Label and Ceasefire Order for Israel, but Pro-Israel Critics Call Decision 'Absurdity'![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-right.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/ap24026465761749.jpg?itok=PbGyHe4I)
The International Court of Justice stopped short of ordering a ceasefire and did not charge Israel with genocide in a ruling Friday on charges brought by South Africa in The Hague concerning Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, but supporters of Israel reacted with "utter dismay" at the decision and called it "an absurdity."
After the ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is committed to international law as well as Israel’s own right to defend itself.
"Israel's commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to...
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