Secretary-General Notes Decision by International Court of Justice Ordering Israel to Ensure Palestinians in Gaza Humanitarian Aid, Prevent Commission of Killings

The following General Statement issued today is attributable to the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the Order of the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa against Israel on the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip:

The Secretary-General takes note of the Order of the International Court of Justice, indicating provisional measures in the case of South Africa against Israel on the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In that regard, the Secretary-General notes the Court’s decision to order Israel inter alia, in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, “to take all measures within its power” in relation to Palestinians in Gaza to prevent the commission of acts within the scope of Article II of the Convention, including killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s destruction and imposing measures intended to prevent births.  He also notes the Court’s instruction to Israel to ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any of these acts.

Further, the Secretary-General takes special note of the Court’s order to Israel to ensure the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

He also notes the emphasis of the Court that “all parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip are bound by international humanitarian law” and that it calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages abducted during the attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and held since then by Hamas and other armed groups”.

The Secretary-General recalls that, pursuant to the Charter and to the Statute of the Court, decisions of the Court are binding and trusts that all parties will duly comply with the Order from the Court.

In accordance with the Statute of the Court, the Secretary-General will promptly transmit the notice of the provisional measures ordered by the Court to the Security Council.