Israel asks World Court not to order new measures over Gaza hunger

By REUTERS

Published: MARCH 18, 2024 18:20

ISRAEL FOREIGN MINISTRY legal adviser Tal Becker and British barrister Malcolm Shaw KC, who appeared on behalf of Israel, attend the International Court of Justice hearing, in The Hague. (photo credit: THILO SCHMUELGEN/REUTERS) — ISRAEL FOREIGN MINISTRY legal adviser Tal Becker and British barrister Malcolm Shaw KC, who appeared on behalf of Israel, attend the International Court of Justice hearing, in The Hague.

(photo credit: THILO SCHMUELGEN/REUTERS)

Israel asks ICJ not to issue emergency orders for it to step up humanitarian aid to Gaza, disregarding South Africa's request to do so in recent legal filings to the UN.

Israel has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) not to issue emergency orders for it to step up humanitarian aid to Gaza to address a looming famine, dismissing South Africa's request to do so as "morally repugnant."

In a legal filing to the United Nations' top court, made public on Monday, Israel said it "has a real concern for the humanitarian situation and innocent lives, as demonstrated by the actions it has and is taking" in Gaza during the war.

Israel denies allegations of causing humanitarian suffering in Gaza

Lawyers for Israel denied allegations of deliberately causing humanitarian suffering in the enclave, where thousands have died and hunger is rising, and said South Africa's repeated requests for additional measures were an abuse of procedures.

The filing said South Africa's accusations in its request for new measures, filed March 6, are "wholly unfounded in fact and law, morally repugnant, and represent an abuse both of the Genocide Convention and of the court itself."

The new exchange between the parties is part of South Africa's ongoing case accusing Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas militant attacks on Israel.

In January, the ICJ ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza.

WHILE MANY view the ICJ as an independent judicial body, it is inherently political. Its judges are elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council, bodies notorious for anti-Israel bias, the writer says. (credit: REUTERS)

Israel denies targeting Palestinian civilians, saying its sole interest is to annihilate Hamas, but relief agencies say aid is being severely restricted to Gaza's 2.3 million people.

ICJ emergency measures serve as temporary injunctions meant to keep a situation from deteriorating before the court can hear the full case, which usually takes several years.