Israel was accused of committing state-led genocide in its offensive that began after Hamas militants stormed Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 240. Israel sought to have the case dismissed.
The judges ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its forces from committing genocide, punish acts of incitement, take steps to improve the humanitarian situation and report on its progress within a month.
British human rights activist Malcolm Shaw, right, and Gilad Noam, Israel's deputy attorney general for international affairs.credit: AP
It has not decided on the genocide allegations, which could take years. Although the ruling is not subject to appeal, the court has no mechanism to implement its decision.
Israel demanded the case be dismissed and described South Africa's claims as false and “grossly distorted.” It says it moved in Gaza in self-defense against the enemy that attacked first, and blames Hamas for harming civilians because of its work among them, which the fighters deny.
The South African government, which was allowed to bring the case under the legal principle that genocide is a serious crime that all countries must prevent, hailed the court's order as a “decisive victory” for the international rule of law.
The South African Foreign Ministry said: “South Africa sincerely hopes that Israel will not act to thwart the implementation of this order, as it has publicly threatened to do, but will instead work to fully comply with it, as it is obligated to do.” In the current situation.
The country's Vice President Paul Mashatile and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola were seen cheering and dancing at a rally of the ruling African National Congress party following the court ruling, which was broadcast live.
Attack on Khan Yunis
On the ground in Gaza, the war has entered a particularly devastating phase, with the heaviest fighting in weeks now taking place in crowded areas packed with hundreds of thousands of people who have fled elsewhere.
On Friday, Israel continued its bombardment of the key southern city of Khan Yunis, where it said it was involved in “intense battles,” with forces hitting dozens of Hamas fighters and infrastructure from the air and ground.
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Residents said that armed battles raged during the night, with Israeli forces bombing buildings and homes in the western part of the city in what became one of the largest attacks launched by Israel to date on hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians.
Israel said it discovered about 200 tunnel openings and destroyed more than 130 militant infrastructure sites in its latest operations, in addition to killing “many militants.”
Palestinians say Israel is blockading hospitals, making it impossible for rescuers to reach the dead and wounded. Israel denies besieging the hospitals and says Hamas fighters are responsible for the fighting near them because of their work there.
Ashraf Al-Qudra, spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said: We believe that many victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and the occupation is preventing ambulances and civil emergency teams from reaching them.
Reuters
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