States must respect the judgment
In its decision, the ICJ ordered six provisional measures. This includes Israel's obligation to refrain from acts in accordance with the Genocide Convention, to prevent and punish direct and public incitement to genocide, and to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza. The court also ordered Israel to preserve evidence of genocide and submit to the court, within one month, a report on all actions it took in accordance with its order.
The ICJ's provisional measures show that, in the court's opinion, the survival of Palestinians in Gaza is at risk. The Israeli government must immediately comply with the ICJ ruling. All States – including those that have criticized or opposed South Africa's presentation of the genocide charge – have a clear duty to ensure that these measures are implemented. The leaders of the US, Britain, Germany and other EU countries must signal that they respect the Court's legally binding ruling and do everything in their power to fulfill their obligation to prevent genocide. Failure to do so would be a serious blow to credibility and trust in the international legal order.
Ceasefire is still necessary
Today's decision is a crucial reminder of the critical role of international law in preventing genocide and protecting all victims of atrocities. It sends a clear message that the world will not stand by in silence. However, the ICJ ruling alone cannot put an end to the atrocities and devastation suffered by the people of Gaza. An immediate ceasefire by all parties to the conflict remains essential and, even if not ordered by the Court, is the most effective condition for implementing provisional measures and putting an end to the unprecedented suffering of the civilian population.
More than 26,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, were killed in the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, and around 10,000 are still missing under the rubble. At least 1.8 million Palestinians have been displaced and do not have access to adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation and medical care.
Amnesty International calls on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups to immediately suspend all military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel must end its illegal occupation and allow unrestricted and unconditional access to urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in order to reduce human suffering. We call on Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups to release all remaining civilian hostages.
Conflict in the Middle East: Human Rights in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
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