The United Nations International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, issued an order on Thursday requiring Israel to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, saying "famine is coming" to Gaza.
"Famine is coming"
The International Court of Justice issued this order in response to a lawsuit filed by South Africa on the 6th of this month. The order stated that since January 26 this year, the "disastrous living conditions" of Palestinians in Gaza have further deteriorated, and they have been chronically and generally lacking food and other basic necessities. "The court believes that Palestinians in Gaza are no longer just at risk of famine, but It's a famine that's coming."
Israel must take "all necessary and effective measures" and immediately cooperate fully with the United Nations to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.
According to the ICJ order, Gazabans are in urgent need of food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene products, as well as medical supplies and medical services. The ICJ also required Israel to increase the capacity and number of land crossings and keep them open where necessary. ICJ orders are legally binding, but the court has no enforcement power.
On December 29 last year, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip to the International Court of Justice. On January 26 this year, the International Court of Justice issued a binding "provisional measure" requiring Israel to comply with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. On March 6, South Africa urged the International Court of Justice to take new measures to end widespread hunger in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.
Naim, a senior official of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, said that the International Court of Justice's ruling is still not thorough enough and Israel must be ordered to stop its military attacks and the suffering. Israel's Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the ICJ's ruling. However, Israel said it is working hard to expand channels for humanitarian groups to enter Gaza by land, airdrops and ships.
