GERMAN NEWSPAPER “JUNGE WELT”
In the end, the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is not even half of a victory: Israel can continue bombing, but it must prevent the war against Gaza’s civilian population from turning into genocide.
On Friday, the ICJ in The Hague ruled on South Africa’s urgent request, in which Pretoria called for an immediate end to the violence through precautionary measures.
According to the ruling, Israel is obliged “with immediate effect” to ensure that its armed forces do not commit any acts that violate the UN Genocide Convention. However, considering the persistent attitude of the Zionist state, the ICJ ruling is not expected to produce profound changes in the conduct of the war by the Israelites.
Meanwhile, more than 26,000 people have been killed and more than 64,000 injured in Gaza since the war began on October 7. More than 85 percent of the population was displaced.
In addition to demanding Hamas “immediate and unconditional release” of the hostages, the court demands that Israel take measures to improve the humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the enclave.
“Palestine welcomes the ruling” of the ICJ, said a diplomatic statement from Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Maliki. The decision is “an important reminder that no State is above the law and we will always be grateful for the brave step of active solidarity taken by South Africa,” Maliki said.
In its decision, the ICJ rejected the interpretation made by Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister has stated that the accusation that Israel is committing genocide is “not only false, but scandalous”, therefore the Israeli army will continue the war until “absolute victory.”
The only certainty is that in Gaza the Israeli state continues to intensify the attack against the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern part of the Strip. On Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Health reported the deaths of 20 civilians while waiting for humanitarian aid at a crossing. A witness told the AFP that people wanted to get food and flour “because they have nothing to eat.” Then the tanks suddenly appeared and “opened fire on the people.”
Around 130 countries have publicly expressed their support for South Africa’s claim, 19 of which have endorsed the accusation of genocide, including Namibia, Cuba, Turkey, Brazil and Colombia.
In a continually updated report by political scientist Alonso Gurmendi Dunkelberg of King’s College London, we are reminded that only eight states have sided with Israel, including the United States, Great Britain, Hungary and Austria. Germany is the only country that has gone a step further and will actively support Israel.
On January 12, the German federal government announced its intention to “intervene as a third party in the main hearing.” Furthermore, the official statement states that it “resolutely and expressly rejects” the accusation of genocide because “it has no basis whatsoever.”
The original title of the declaration read “International Criminal Court,” a court where cases are heard against individuals, not states, as is the mandate given by the UN to the International Court of Justice. Incredibly, the federal government chose the wrong court. This is the level of those who govern Germany today.
