International Court of Justice or­ders Is­rael Stop geno­cide in Gaza

The International Court of Justice, based in the Hague, Netherlands, has directed Israel to take measures aimed at reducing death and destruction in Gaza. This ruling is part of a broader case initiated by South Africa, accusing Israel of engaging in genocide in its conflict with Hamas. While the court did not mandate a cease-fire in Gaza, as requested by South Africa, it marks the initial step in a larger legal proceeding to determine whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Despite the ruling, Israel has declared its intention to continue its military operations until it eliminates Hamas and secures the release of hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed, “We will continue to take necessary actions to defend our country and people.”