UN top court orders Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza

The United Nations’ top court has ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide, but stopped short of ordering them to end their military offensive in Palestine.

In a genocide case brought forth by South Africa, the court’s interim ruling saw Israel face six orders from the International Court of Justice.

It ordered Israel in part to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts as well as ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

Although, the court’s orders will be hard to reach without some type of pause in fighting.

“In the court’s view, at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the Convention”, said Judge Joan Donoghue.

“Given this conclusion, the court considers that it cannot accede to Israel’s request that the case be removed from the general list.”

However, the top court’s ruling didn’t call for a ceasefire either and the order could change if it isn’t followed.

READ MORE: Motion calling for ceasefire in Gaza shut down by Niagara regional council

Hamilton resident Firas Afarat says he still waits for phone calls from his brother, who lives in Gaza, everyday.

Despite a UN court ruling to scale back the war in Gaza, the Hamiltonian says it offers a glimmer of hope for his two parents, two brothers, sister-in-law and three children.

“I’m taking this with a grain of salt,” he said.

“To be honest at this stage we need anything that can stop the violence, anything that can save civillians and my family who are stuck there, is good news for me.”

Afarat says he recently applied to bring them to Canada via a temporary residency, and awaits for different call with better news from Ottawa.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly issued a statement saying, “our support for the ICJ does not mean that we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa. It is for the ICJ to make a final decision on the case, which it has not done today. We continue to follow the case very closely.”

Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 people and served as a catalyst to the war in Gaza.

According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 26,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the war.

The court says Israel must submit a report within a month on what measures have been taken.