<p>Over a dozen countries, including the United States and more recently <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-suspends-financial-support-to-unrwa-amid-allegations-of-staff-involvement-in-gaza-attack-684707">Japan</a>, have suspended funds for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees after Israel accused some of its employees of participating in the October 7 attack by Hamas. However, a UN expert said that these countries may be violating the World Court order to provide effective aid in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why are countries pausing the funding to Gaza?</strong></h2>

<p>At least 14&nbsp;countries, including top donors like the US and Germany, have paused funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), amid accusations by Israel that their staff participated in the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group&nbsp;Hamas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The allegations led to the UNRWA terminating several employees based on the information provided by Israeli authorities. However, many countries are now hesitant to continue the UN agency funding and calling for a thorough investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New Zealand, on Tuesday&nbsp;(Jan 30) joined a growing number of countries: Australia, Austria,&nbsp;Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands,&nbsp;Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the US, to halt the funding to the UNRWA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the European Union,&nbsp;one of UNRWA's top donors, on Monday (Jan 29)&nbsp;demanded an "urgent" audit of the UN agency for Palestinians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A commission statement said the EU executive "will determine upcoming funding decisions...in light of the very serious allegations made on 24 January relating to the involvement of UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks". It also said&nbsp;no additional funding to UNRWA "is foreseen until the end of February".</p>

<p>The Palestinian militant group Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the killing of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 240 people were taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli officials. Approximately more than 100 people are still said to be in Hamas captivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Israel has since retaliated with constant bombardment and ground operation in the Palestinian enclave killing more than 26,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>UN responds to suspension of aid</strong></h2>

<p>The UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini in a statement, on Saturday (Jan 27) slammed what he called <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-agency-for-palestinians-slams-shocking-suspension-of-funds-by-several-western-countries-684412">“shocking” suspensions of funding</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation,” said Lazzarini, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment,” the UNRWA chief said on X and added “This stains all of us.”</p>

<p>Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday (Jan 28) urged the donor states to “guarantee the continuity” of funds to the UNRWA. He added, “The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Guterres said, “tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized.”</p>

<p>“Any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution,” Lazzarini assured when the allegations were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-warns-will-end-un-agencys-operations-in-gaza-nations-halt-aid-amid-oct-7-allegations-684304">first levelled</a> against the agency’s staff.</p>

<h2><strong>Are the countries violating international law?</strong></h2>

<p>UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, warned that the decision taken by several countries to pause the funding to the UNRWA “overtly defies” the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to allow effective humanitarian assistance to reach Gazans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This will entail legal responsibilities - or the demise of the (international) legal system,” said the UN expert, in a post on X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Albanese is referring to one, among the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/5-key-takeaways-from-icj-order-in-gaza-genocide-case-against-israel-684019">series of provisional measures</a> on Israel given by the ICJ which included “order to allow effective humanitarian assistance ‘to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza’”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court order stated, “Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”</p>

<p>The UN judges gave an interim ruling on January 26 as the World Court continues to hear the case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of state-led genocide in the Gaza Strip amid its ongoing operation in the blockaded Palestinian enclave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UN special rapporteur, an independent expert&nbsp;who does not speak on behalf of the United Nations, also went on to highlight the timing that the announcements were made by several countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The day after ICJ concluded that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza, some states decided to defund UNRWA,” said Albanese, in a separate post on X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She also noted that by pausing the funding, countries are “collectively punishing millions of Palestinians at the most critical time, and most likely violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, an American International law professor Francis Boyle at the University of Illinois College of Law, who also serves as a legal adviser to the Provisional Government of the Palestinian Authority, in an interview with MSNBC called the suspension of funding “inconsistent” with the court order.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The governments who have made this decision without any due process or investigation, according to Boyle, are in violation of Article 2(c) of the Genocide Convention, which states “Deliberately&nbsp;inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”</p>

<p>It is also worth noting that in its 29-page court order, the UN judges did indicate that they see a credible risk to Palestinians under the Genocide Convention, saying that “there is a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused to the rights claimed before the Court gives its final decision.”</p>

<p>“South Africa does not need to prove that Israel is committing genocide,” Juliette McIntyre, an international law expert told AFP <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-africa-discuss-gaza-war-as-israel-braces-for-world-court-ruling-on-genocide-case-683799">ahead of the interim ruling</a>, adding that they “simply need to establish that there is a plausible risk of genocide occurring.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Experts ahead of the vote also said if the court decides there is a risk of genocide in Gaza, it could still have a ripple effect, particularly on the nations which support Israel politically or militarily.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Israel’s accusations against UNRWA staff</strong></h2>

<p>In his Sunday statement, the UN chief said 12 UNRWA employees were cited in the accusations by Israel out of which one is dead, nine have been fired and the “identity of the two others is being clarified.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, news agency Reuters, on Monday (Jan 29) reported that Israeli intelligence released a six-page dossier which alleges that some 190 UNRWA employees, including teachers, have doubled as Hamas or Islamic Jihad militants.</p>

<p>One of the 11 accused is said to be a school counsellor who allegedly provided unspecified assistance to his son in the abduction of a woman during the Hamas infiltration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another UNRWA social worker, according to Reuters, has been accused of coordinating the movements of pick-up trucks used by the raiders and of weapons supplies.</p>

<p>Another Palestinian working for the UN agency is accused of participating in an attack on Reim, the site both of an army base and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-militants-parachuted-into-israeli-music-festival-turned-it-into-a-massacre-video-644452">Supernova music festival</a> where, according to Israeli officials, more than 360 revellers were killed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Reuters report, citing an anonymous source, also said that the report had been compiled by Israeli intelligence and was shared with the US, which was among the first countries to suspend funding for UNRWA, on Friday (Jan 26).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>UNRWA’s role in Gaza</strong></h2>

<p>On Monday (Jan 29), the UN agency said that it would not be able to continue operations in Gaza and surrounding regions after the end of February without any new funding.</p>

<p>Notably, the UNRWA plays a significant role in the Palestinian enclave and helps provide education, health and aid services to two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, without any further aid, the future of millions of Palestinians hangs in balance <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-israel-qatar-officials-meet-in-paris-for-gaza-ceasefire-talks-684867">amid the ongoing war</a> and&nbsp;deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
<em><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>


Over a dozen countries, including the United States and more recently Japan, have suspended funds for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees after Israel accused some of its employees of participating in the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Over a dozen countries, including the United States and more recently Japan, have suspended funds for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees after Israel accused some of its employees of participating in the October 7 attack by Hamas. However, a UN expert said that these countries may be violating the World Court order to provide effective aid in Gaza. Why are countries pausing the funding to Gaza? At least 14 countries, including top donors like the US and Germany, have paused funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), amid accusations by Israel that their staff participated in the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The allegations led to the UNRWA terminating several employees based on the information provided by Israeli authorities. However, many countries are now hesitant to continue the UN agency funding and calling for a thorough investigation. New Zealand, on Tuesday (Jan 30) joined a growing number of countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the US, to halt the funding to the UNRWA. Meanwhile, the European Union, one of UNRWA's top donors, on Monday (Jan 29) demanded an "urgent" audit of the UN agency for Palestinians. A commission statement said the EU executive "will determine upcoming funding decisions...in light of the very serious allegations made on 24 January relating to the involvement of UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks". It also said no additional funding to UNRWA "is foreseen until the end of February". The Palestinian militant group Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the killing of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 240 people were taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli officials. Approximately more than 100 people are still said to be in Hamas captivity. Israel has since retaliated with constant bombardment and ground operation in the Palestinian enclave killing more than 26,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. UN responds to suspension of aid The UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini in a statement, on Saturday (Jan 27) slammed what he called “shocking” suspensions of funding. “It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation,” said Lazzarini, in a statement. “Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment,” the UNRWA chief said on X and added “This stains all of us.” Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday (Jan 28) urged the donor states to “guarantee the continuity” of funds to the UNRWA. He added, “The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences.” However, Guterres said, “tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized.” “Any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution,” Lazzarini assured when the allegations were first levelled against the agency’s staff. Are the countries violating international law? UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, warned that the decision taken by several countries to pause the funding to the UNRWA “overtly defies” the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to allow effective humanitarian assistance to reach Gazans. “This will entail legal responsibilities - or the demise of the (international) legal system,” said the UN expert, in a post on X. Albanese is referring to one, among the series of provisional measures on Israel given by the ICJ which included “order to allow effective humanitarian assistance ‘to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza’”. The court order stated, “Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.” The UN judges gave an interim ruling on January 26 as the World Court continues to hear the case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of state-led genocide in the Gaza Strip amid its ongoing operation in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. The UN special rapporteur, an independent expert who does not speak on behalf of the United Nations, also went on to highlight the timing that the announcements were made by several countries. “The day after ICJ concluded that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza, some states decided to defund UNRWA,” said Albanese, in a separate post on X. She also noted that by pausing the funding, countries are “collectively punishing millions of Palestinians at the most critical time, and most likely violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention”. Meanwhile, an American International law professor Francis Boyle at the University of Illinois College of Law, who also serves as a legal adviser to the Provisional Government of the Palestinian Authority, in an interview with MSNBC called the suspension of funding “inconsistent” with the court order. The governments who have made this decision without any due process or investigation, according to Boyle, are in violation of Article 2(c) of the Genocide Convention, which states “Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” It is also worth noting that in its 29-page court order, the UN judges did indicate that they see a credible risk to Palestinians under the Genocide Convention, saying that “there is a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused to the rights claimed before the Court gives its final decision.” “South Africa does not need to prove that Israel is committing genocide,” Juliette McIntyre, an international law expert told AFP ahead of the interim ruling, adding that they “simply need to establish that there is a plausible risk of genocide occurring.” Experts ahead of the vote also said if the court decides there is a risk of genocide in Gaza, it could still have a ripple effect, particularly on the nations which support Israel politically or militarily. Israel’s accusations against UNRWA staff In his Sunday statement, the UN chief said 12 UNRWA employees were cited in the accusations by Israel out of which one is dead, nine have been fired and the “identity of the two others is being clarified.” Meanwhile, news agency Reuters, on Monday (Jan 29) reported that Israeli intelligence released a six-page dossier which alleges that some 190 UNRWA employees, including teachers, have doubled as Hamas or Islamic Jihad militants. One of the 11 accused is said to be a school counsellor who allegedly provided unspecified assistance to his son in the abduction of a woman during the Hamas infiltration. Another UNRWA social worker, according to Reuters, has been accused of coordinating the movements of pick-up trucks used by the raiders and of weapons supplies. Another Palestinian working for the UN agency is accused of participating in an attack on Reim, the site both of an army base and the Supernova music festival where, according to Israeli officials, more than 360 revellers were killed. The Reuters report, citing an anonymous source, also said that the report had been compiled by Israeli intelligence and was shared with the US, which was among the first countries to suspend funding for UNRWA, on Friday (Jan 26). UNRWA’s role in Gaza On Monday (Jan 29), the UN agency said that it would not be able to continue operations in Gaza and surrounding regions after the end of February without any new funding. Notably, the UNRWA plays a significant role in the Palestinian enclave and helps provide education, health and aid services to two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million population. Therefore, without any further aid, the future of millions of Palestinians hangs in balance amid the ongoing war and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Explained | Countries pausing funding for UNRWA might be violating genocide convention. Here’s how

After three months of relentless bombing, and after over 26,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, ICJ has found Israel accountable. In its first ruling in a genocide case, the World Court has ordered Israel to take all necessary actions to prevent genocide in Gaza. The World Court did not, however, order Israel to cease its military operation against Hamas.

Gravitas: Netanyahu Fumes As ICJ Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide in Gaza

<p>The International Court of Justice issued a series of provisional measures on Israel while giving its ruling on South Africa's case against the Jewish nation alleging genocide in Gaza. The court showed the urgency of protecting Palestinian people in the besieged territory, but&nbsp;refrained from mandating an immediate ceasefire, leaving room for further legal proceedings. While South Africa and Hamas welcomed the ruling by ICJ, which urged Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza,&nbsp;the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country's commitment to international law is unwavering. The Israeli defence minister&nbsp;called the ruling&nbsp;antisemitic . <em><strong>Here are the key takeaways from ICJ's ruling:&nbsp;</strong></em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>-&gt; Jurisdiction confirmed</strong></h2>

<p>The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that it has the jurisdiction to address South Africa's application against Israel regarding allegations of genocide in Gaza. Judge Joan E. Donoghue, who is the current ICJ president, said, “The court concludes it has prima facie jurisdiction to entertain the case on the basis of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-south-african-president-cyril-ramaphosa-breaks-into-celebration-as-icj-rules-against-israel-684014">WATCH | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa breaks into celebration as ICJ rules against Israel</a></p>

<p>The judge backed it up saying, "In the court’s view, at least some of the acts and omissions committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the genocide convention."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>-&gt; Prevention of Genocide incitement</strong></h2>

<p>The court ordered Israel to prevent and punish genocide incitement against the Palestinians. Citing inflammatory comments by Israeli officials, the court found plausibility in South Africa’s claims regarding the need to protect Palestinians from genocide. Donoghue cited statements made by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, President Isaac Herzog, and then-Energy Minister Yisrael Katz.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-africa-hails-icj-verdict-on-gaza-genocide-israel-strikes-defiant-tone-684012">South Africa hails ICJ verdict on Gaza 'genocide', Israel strikes defiant tone</a></p>

<p>“The aforementioned facts and circumstances are sufficient to conclude that at least some rights of the Palestinians to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts in Article 3 of the Genocide Convention, and the rights of South Africa to seek protection of these rights,” Donoghue stated.</p>

<h2><strong>-&gt; Measures to prevent Genocide</strong></h2>

<p>Israel is instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent the commission of genocidal acts against Palestinians, as outlined in Article 2 of the Genocide Convention. In a 15-2 majority on the bench, the measures were imposed on Israel. American judge Donoghue also voted in favour of the measures while Israel’s Aharon Barak voted in against.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>-&gt; Humanitarian aid to Gaza</strong></h2>

<p>Israel is directed to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, addressing the adverse conditions of life in the besieged Strip. The court order said, “Israel must take steps to provide urgently needed assistance to address the adverse conditions of life in Gaza.”</p>

<h2><strong>-&gt; Protection measures and ceasefire</strong></h2>

<p>The court ordered Israel to prevent the killing or injuring of Gaza’s Palestinians and conditions intended to harm the population. The court, however, stopped short of granting South Africa’s demand for an immediate unilateral ceasefire in Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-icj-ruling-on-israel-genocide-case-aware-of-extent-ofhuman-tragedy-684010">ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: Aware of extent ofhuman tragedy</a></strong></p>

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<p>The court order read, “Israel must prevent the killing or injuring of Gaza’s Palestinians, prevent conditions calculated to wholly or partly destroy Gaza’s populace, and prevent conditions intended to prevent births among Gazans.”</p>

<p>The court has now asked Israel to report back&nbsp;in a month over the measures taken to prevent genocide in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The International Court of Justice issued a series of provisional measures on Israel while giving its ruling on South Africa's case against the Jewish nation alleging genocide in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice issued a series of provisional measures on Israel while giving its ruling on South Africa's case against the Jewish nation alleging genocide in Gaza. The court showed the urgency of protecting Palestinian people in the besieged territory, but refrained from mandating an immediate ceasefire, leaving room for further legal proceedings. While South Africa and Hamas welcomed the ruling by ICJ, which urged Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country's commitment to international law is unwavering. The Israeli defence minister called the ruling antisemitic . Here are the key takeaways from ICJ's ruling: -> Jurisdiction confirmed The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that it has the jurisdiction to address South Africa's application against Israel regarding allegations of genocide in Gaza. Judge Joan E. Donoghue, who is the current ICJ president, said, “The court concludes it has prima facie jurisdiction to entertain the case on the basis of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention.” WATCH | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa breaks into celebration as ICJ rules against Israel The judge backed it up saying, "In the court’s view, at least some of the acts and omissions committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the genocide convention." -> Prevention of Genocide incitement The court ordered Israel to prevent and punish genocide incitement against the Palestinians. Citing inflammatory comments by Israeli officials, the court found plausibility in South Africa’s claims regarding the need to protect Palestinians from genocide. Donoghue cited statements made by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, President Isaac Herzog, and then-Energy Minister Yisrael Katz. Also Read | South Africa hails ICJ verdict on Gaza 'genocide', Israel strikes defiant tone “The aforementioned facts and circumstances are sufficient to conclude that at least some rights of the Palestinians to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts in Article 3 of the Genocide Convention, and the rights of South Africa to seek protection of these rights,” Donoghue stated. -> Measures to prevent Genocide Israel is instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent the commission of genocidal acts against Palestinians, as outlined in Article 2 of the Genocide Convention. In a 15-2 majority on the bench, the measures were imposed on Israel. American judge Donoghue also voted in favour of the measures while Israel’s Aharon Barak voted in against. -> Humanitarian aid to Gaza Israel is directed to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, addressing the adverse conditions of life in the besieged Strip. The court order said, “Israel must take steps to provide urgently needed assistance to address the adverse conditions of life in Gaza.” -> Protection measures and ceasefire The court ordered Israel to prevent the killing or injuring of Gaza’s Palestinians and conditions intended to harm the population. The court, however, stopped short of granting South Africa’s demand for an immediate unilateral ceasefire in Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza. Watch | ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: Aware of extent ofhuman tragedy × The court order read, “Israel must prevent the killing or injuring of Gaza’s Palestinians, prevent conditions calculated to wholly or partly destroy Gaza’s populace, and prevent conditions intended to prevent births among Gazans.” The court has now asked Israel to report back in a month over the measures taken to prevent genocide in Gaza. (With inputs from agencies)

5 key takeaways from ICJ order in Gaza genocide case against Israel

<p>South African President Cyril Ramaphosa broke into celebration on Friday (Jan 26) along with his party members as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled against Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas.</p>

<p>He was watching the World Court ruling live on a big screen.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa breaks in celebration as the International Court of Justice rules against Israel <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/DmFmmzYXSl">pic.twitter.com/DmFmmzYXSl</a></p>
— Shazi (@NkosinathiShazi) <a href="https://twitter.com/NkosinathiShazi/status/1750865982325665838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Africa's foreign ministry hailed the ruling by the UN's top court and called it a "decisive victory" for the international rule of law.</p>

<p>"Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," the foreign ministry said.</p>

<p>The International Court of Justice ruled in favour of South Africa's request to impose emergency measures against Israel over its military operations in Gaza.</p>

<p>The court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, in&nbsp;its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>However, the court has not yet ruled on whether genocide occurred in Gaza, which was the&nbsp;very core of the case brought up by South Africa.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/5-key-takeaways-from-icj-order-in-gaza-genocide-case-against-israel-684019">5 key takeaways from ICJ order in Gaza genocide case against Israel</a></p>

<h2><strong>Israel must prevent actions violating Genocide Convention: ICJ</strong></h2>

<p>In its ruling, the ICJ said that it has taken into account the Israeli defence minister's comments regarding 'human animals' in Gaza. The court ruled that some of the acts and omissions committed by Israel are under the Genocide Convention's provisions. ICJ said that no evidence of genocide in Gaza must be destroyed.</p>

<p>The International Court of Justice has further ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide and any kind of actions which fall under the scope of the Genocide Convention.</p>

<p>A case was filed by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December, in which they had alleged that the devastating offensive against Hamas, in which 25,700 people were killed, amounted to state-led genocide and had breached the UN’s genocide convention, which was signed in 1948 in response to the Holocaust.</p>

<p>South Africa has appealed to the ICJ to impose nine orders on Israel which include immediate suspension of military activity and provide more access to humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


South African President Cyril Ramaphosa broke into celebration on Friday (Jan 26) along with his party members as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled against Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa broke into celebration on Friday (Jan 26) along with his party members as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled against Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas. He was watching the World Court ruling live on a big screen. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa breaks in celebration as the International Court of Justice rules against Israel #ICJ pic.twitter.com/DmFmmzYXSl — Shazi (@NkosinathiShazi) January 26, 2024 × South Africa's foreign ministry hailed the ruling by the UN's top court and called it a "decisive victory" for the international rule of law. "Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," the foreign ministry said. The International Court of Justice ruled in favour of South Africa's request to impose emergency measures against Israel over its military operations in Gaza. The court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, in its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. However, the court has not yet ruled on whether genocide occurred in Gaza, which was the very core of the case brought up by South Africa. Also read: 5 key takeaways from ICJ order in Gaza genocide case against Israel Israel must prevent actions violating Genocide Convention: ICJ In its ruling, the ICJ said that it has taken into account the Israeli defence minister's comments regarding 'human animals' in Gaza. The court ruled that some of the acts and omissions committed by Israel are under the Genocide Convention's provisions. ICJ said that no evidence of genocide in Gaza must be destroyed. The International Court of Justice has further ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide and any kind of actions which fall under the scope of the Genocide Convention. A case was filed by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December, in which they had alleged that the devastating offensive against Hamas, in which 25,700 people were killed, amounted to state-led genocide and had breached the UN’s genocide convention, which was signed in 1948 in response to the Holocaust. South Africa has appealed to the ICJ to impose nine orders on Israel which include immediate suspension of military activity and provide more access to humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa breaks into celebration as ICJ rules against Israel

<p><em><strong>Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p lang="en-US">Hours after the United Nations top court gave a ruling in the genocide case filed against Israel by South Africa and asked the country to take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza, militant group Hamas published a new video of three female hostages who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip from October 7.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-un-court-orders-israel-to-take-steps-to-prevent-genocide-in-gaza-report-back-in-a-month-683996">Top UN court orders Israel to take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza, report back in a month</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">In the edited five-minute-long video, soldiers Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev, and civilian Doron Steinbrecher were seen identifying themselves and appealing to the Israeli government to find a way for them to return them home.</p>

<p lang="en-US">The women claimed that they had been detained by Hamas for 107 days and their comments were mostly critical of the failure of Israel to rescue them, while all three hostages were referred to be under bombardment or fire.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">⚡️Hamas published a video showing a message from by female IOF soldiers in the Gaza Strip.<br />
<br />
They say they are ashamed of Netanyahu. One of the girls said:<br />
<br />
“I became more afraid of my &lt;country&gt; than I feared Hamas” <a href="https://t.co/ios3NkrowC">https://t.co/ios3NkrowC</a> <a href="https://t.co/aFF6Ww5Hla">pic.twitter.com/aFF6Ww5Hla</a></p>
— Arya - آریا 🇮🇷 (@AryJeay) <a href="https://twitter.com/AryJeay/status/1750882755125117239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Hamas says video filmed day 107 of war</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Hamas has claimed that the video was filmed on day 107 of the ongoing war against Israel, however, they did not provide any evidence to support the claim.<br />
<br />
Previously, Hamas had issued similar videos of hostages who have been kept captive in Gaza. These steps of Hamas have been called deplorable psychological warfare by Israel.<br />
<br />
Earlier in the day, the International Court of Justice said that it is under its jurisdiction to rule over emergency measures as appealed by South Africa in the genocide case filed against Israel, in the wake of its ongoing war in Gaza.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: "Israel must not destroy evidence of genocide in Gaza"</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/icj-ruling-on-israel-genocide-case-israel-must-not-destroy-evidence-of-genocide-in-gaza-684004/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">It further said that Israel must punish people for committing genocide in Gaza and should immediately stop its attacks in Gaza.<br />
<br />
The court further asked Israel to submit a report on the steps taken by the country to comply with its orders within one month.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="en-US">The attacks carried out by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the death of 1,140 civilians in Israel, as per an AFP tally on the basis of official Israeli figures.<br />
<br />
The militants also seized more than 250 hostages and Israel stated that nearly 132 of them have been kept hostage in Gaza, which included the dead bodies of at least 28 dead captives.<br />
<br />
Nearly 26,083 Palestinians, among which 70 per cent of them young children, women, and adolescents, were killed in the bombardments and ground offensive carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip, as per the health ministry of the Hamas government.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. Hours after the United Nations top court gave a ruling in the genocide case filed against Israel by South Africa and asked the country to take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza, militant group Hamas published a new video of three female hostages who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip from October 7.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. Hours after the United Nations top court gave a ruling in the genocide case filed against Israel by South Africa and asked the country to take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza, militant group Hamas published a new video of three female hostages who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip from October 7. Also read: Top UN court orders Israel to take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza, report back in a month In the edited five-minute-long video, soldiers Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev, and civilian Doron Steinbrecher were seen identifying themselves and appealing to the Israeli government to find a way for them to return them home. The women claimed that they had been detained by Hamas for 107 days and their comments were mostly critical of the failure of Israel to rescue them, while all three hostages were referred to be under bombardment or fire. ⚡️Hamas published a video showing a message from by female IOF soldiers in the Gaza Strip. They say they are ashamed of Netanyahu. One of the girls said: “I became more afraid of my <country> than I feared Hamas” https://t.co/ios3NkrowC pic.twitter.com/aFF6Ww5Hla — Arya - آریا 🇮🇷 (@AryJeay) January 26, 2024 × Hamas says video filmed day 107 of war Hamas has claimed that the video was filmed on day 107 of the ongoing war against Israel, however, they did not provide any evidence to support the claim. Previously, Hamas had issued similar videos of hostages who have been kept captive in Gaza. These steps of Hamas have been called deplorable psychological warfare by Israel. Earlier in the day, the International Court of Justice said that it is under its jurisdiction to rule over emergency measures as appealed by South Africa in the genocide case filed against Israel, in the wake of its ongoing war in Gaza. Watch: ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: "Israel must not destroy evidence of genocide in Gaza" It further said that Israel must punish people for committing genocide in Gaza and should immediately stop its attacks in Gaza. The court further asked Israel to submit a report on the steps taken by the country to comply with its orders within one month. The attacks carried out by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the death of 1,140 civilians in Israel, as per an AFP tally on the basis of official Israeli figures. The militants also seized more than 250 hostages and Israel stated that nearly 132 of them have been kept hostage in Gaza, which included the dead bodies of at least 28 dead captives. Nearly 26,083 Palestinians, among which 70 per cent of them young children, women, and adolescents, were killed in the bombardments and ground offensive carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip, as per the health ministry of the Hamas government. (With inputs from agencies)

TRIGGER WARNING: Hamas releases new video of three Israeli hostages in Gaza, hours after ICJ ruling

The international court of justice delivered a much-anticipated judgment in the genocide case levelled by South Africa against Israel. The court ruled that Israel must prevent genocidal acts in the besieged strip but stopped short of ordering an immediate ceasefire.

ICJ ruling on Genocide case: South Africa hails 'decisive victory', Israel slams the order

The much-anticipated verdict of the UN top court is out. Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and facilitate the urgently needed humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. The court has urged Israel to refrain from any possible genocidal acts. To know more watch this interview with Col (R) Rich Outzen, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and The Jamestown foundation.

ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: Will Israel halt assault after ICJ ruling?

The much-anticipated verdict of the UN top court is out. Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and facilitate the urgently needed humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. The court has urged Israel to refrain from any possible genocidal acts.

ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: UN court says Israel must prevent genocide

Israeli officials are bracing for an expected interim ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on South Africa’s allegation that the war in Gaza amounts to genocide against Palestinians, an emergency measure that could expose Israel to international sanctions.

Israel-Hamas War: ICJ to rule genocide case against Israel

Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rule on emergency measures against Israel following accusations by South Africa that the Israeli military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide. The ruling becomes the most watched in the court's history.

ICJ: Allegations against Israel fall within genocide convention

Israeli officials are bracing for an expected interim ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on South Africa’s allegation that the war in Gaza amounts to genocide against Palestinians, an emergency measure that could expose Israel to international sanctions. The ICJ ruling has started on the case.

BREAKING: ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: Aware of extent ofhuman tragedy

ICJ ruling on Israel Genocide case: "Israel must not destroy evidence of genocide in Gaza"

Israel-Hamas War: World Court to issue order on emergency measures against Israel

Israel-Hamas war | ICJ to issue order on emergency measures against Israel

On the second day of the genocide case at the united nations top court, israel responded to south africa's case accusing israel of committing a genocide in the gaza strip. Israel called the allegations 'profoundly distorted' while claiming that the case does not reflect ground reality.

Israel vs South Africa at ICJ: Ruling on Gaza emergency measures

Israel vs South Africa at ICJ: Netanyahu to meet jurists ahead of verdict

South Africa's foreign minister is all set to fly to the Hague. Naledi Pandor will be present at the ICJ when the court will deliver its verdict. South Africa has requested for an interim ruling in its genocide case against Israel. Watch this video for all details.

What to expect from ICJ's interim ruling on genocide case against Israel?

ICJ to rule on South Africa's Genocide case against Israel

<p>Court cases are tense no matter the issue they are about. The presiding judges maintain strict silence and protocol as lawyers from both sides bring in their knowledge and expertise in order to win the case using smallest of the legal provisions, manoeuvres or loopholes as the case may be. And when it comes to International Court of Justice (ICJ) deliberating on cases of great global importance, the stakes can't be any higher.</p>

<p>It is precisely because of this, when an international lawyer makes a gaffe or a 'silly error' it becomes the talk of the town. And in the social media age, this means global trolling.</p>

<p>Not that his competence or legal expertise was called into question, but British lawyer Malcolm Shaw, one of those representing the Israeli side in the ongoing 'genocide' case in the ICJ, has a 'whoops' moment just when he was in the middle of presenting his argument in the case that involves some serious charges against Israel.</p>

<p>As he carefully and methodically presented what he wanted to say in the matter, the courtroom was silent and attentive to the extent that even a pindrop could be heard. The panel of judges looked at documents, possibly thinking about finer points of International Law and its applications in the context of Israel-Hamas war, expecting strong argument from Shaw...when he just stopped talking.</p>

<p>All eyes were suddenly on Shaw as the continuous stream of proceedings suddenly stopped. And they saw him going through his papers.</p>

<p>A lawyer messing around with the papers in an international court may be a rare sight as everyone is expected to be in tip-top form backed by their painstaking preparation beforehand, but Shaw started looking at his papers, clearly not finding what he was meant to.</p>

<p>"Excuse me....I've lost the page," he can be heard saying in the video recording of the court proceedings.</p>

<p>"Well, someone has shuffled my papers," he added as he looked at page after page.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-red-sea-but-a-sea-of-blood-erdogan-lashes-out-at-us-uk-air-strikes-in-yemen-679562">Turning Red Sea to 'sea of blood': Erdogan lashes out at US, UK air strikes in Yemen</a></strong></p>

<p>He definitely did not break any law or rule and any legal representative has a right to take time to go through their documentation during the court proceedings. But ICJ is such a haloed place that this small error appeared to amuse social media users.</p>

<p>Watch the full video here.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Someone has shuffled my papers.”<br />
<br />
Malcolm Shaw, Israel's defence representative at the International Court of Justice and British international legal expert, lost his papers during his statement today in The Hague <a href="https://t.co/oYOyDKLJ99">pic.twitter.com/oYOyDKLJ99</a></p>
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1745939736634470457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>What's the case about?</strong></h2>

<p>The emergency case has been launched by South Africa against Israel in the ICJ saying that the latter has breached the UN Genocide Convention in the ongoing war. In simpler terms, Israel has been accused of a 'genocide'. South Africa wants the ICJ to compel Israel to immediately stop its military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in death of at least 23,469 people so far, according to the figures of the&nbsp;Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | US-UK Airstrikes on Yemen: Will retaliate if Houthis continue outrageous behavior, says Biden</strong></p>

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<p>Israel has strongly denied charges of genocide.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Court cases are tense no matter the issue they are about. The presiding judges maintain strict silence and protocol as lawyers from both sides bring in their knowledge and expertise in order to win the case using smallest of the legal provisions, manoeuvres or loopholes as the case may be.

Court cases are tense no matter the issue they are about. The presiding judges maintain strict silence and protocol as lawyers from both sides bring in their knowledge and expertise in order to win the case using smallest of the legal provisions, manoeuvres or loopholes as the case may be. And when it comes to International Court of Justice (ICJ) deliberating on cases of great global importance, the stakes can't be any higher. It is precisely because of this, when an international lawyer makes a gaffe or a 'silly error' it becomes the talk of the town. And in the social media age, this means global trolling. Not that his competence or legal expertise was called into question, but British lawyer Malcolm Shaw, one of those representing the Israeli side in the ongoing 'genocide' case in the ICJ, has a 'whoops' moment just when he was in the middle of presenting his argument in the case that involves some serious charges against Israel. As he carefully and methodically presented what he wanted to say in the matter, the courtroom was silent and attentive to the extent that even a pindrop could be heard. The panel of judges looked at documents, possibly thinking about finer points of International Law and its applications in the context of Israel-Hamas war, expecting strong argument from Shaw...when he just stopped talking. All eyes were suddenly on Shaw as the continuous stream of proceedings suddenly stopped. And they saw him going through his papers. A lawyer messing around with the papers in an international court may be a rare sight as everyone is expected to be in tip-top form backed by their painstaking preparation beforehand, but Shaw started looking at his papers, clearly not finding what he was meant to. "Excuse me....I've lost the page," he can be heard saying in the video recording of the court proceedings. "Well, someone has shuffled my papers," he added as he looked at page after page. Also Read | Turning Red Sea to 'sea of blood': Erdogan lashes out at US, UK air strikes in Yemen He definitely did not break any law or rule and any legal representative has a right to take time to go through their documentation during the court proceedings. But ICJ is such a haloed place that this small error appeared to amuse social media users. Watch the full video here. “Someone has shuffled my papers.” Malcolm Shaw, Israel's defence representative at the International Court of Justice and British international legal expert, lost his papers during his statement today in The Hague pic.twitter.com/oYOyDKLJ99 — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) January 12, 2024 × What's the case about? The emergency case has been launched by South Africa against Israel in the ICJ saying that the latter has breached the UN Genocide Convention in the ongoing war. In simpler terms, Israel has been accused of a 'genocide'. South Africa wants the ICJ to compel Israel to immediately stop its military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in death of at least 23,469 people so far, according to the figures of the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave. Watch | US-UK Airstrikes on Yemen: Will retaliate if Houthis continue outrageous behavior, says Biden × Israel has strongly denied charges of genocide. (With inputs from agencies)

Someone shuffled my papers: Video of Israel lawyer fumbling in ICJ amuses netizens

<p>Israel on Thursday (Jan 11) called South Africa a "legal arm" of Hamas militants as lawyers presented a "genocide" case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lior Haiat, who is the foreign ministry spokesman, described South Africa's case over Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as "one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history".&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Africa claimed that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and demanded an emergency suspension of the military campaign in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-launches-info-gathering-mission-on-hamas-alleged-sexual-violence-in-israel-678990">UN launches info-gathering mission on Hamas' alleged sexual violence in Israel</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Israel has dismissed the case as "atrocious" and "preposterous" and vowed to set out a robust defence on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pretoria's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said that "no armed attack on a state territory, no matter how serious... can provide justification for or defend breaches of the convention".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that "Israel's response to the October 7 attack has crossed this line and given rise to the breaches of the convention".&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the day the case was being heard, thousands of pro-Israeli protesters gathered in front of the UN's top court, carrying Israeli and Dutch flags. They were also carrying posters with images of people taken hostage by Hamas.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-send-warships-aircraft-carrier-to-indian-ocean-for-joint-training-with-indian-forces-678963">UK to send warships, aircraft carrier to Indian Ocean for joint training with Indian forces</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Separately, a pro-Palestinian march was also present with red and green coloured smoke symbolising the Palestinian flag.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heavy police presence made sure both sides do not clash, leading to a situation of chaos in two days of hearings, as the World Court will hear South Africa's arguments on Thursday and Israel's response on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later this month, a ruling on the emergency measures is expected. The court will not rule at that time on the genocide allegations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Panel of 17 Judges presides over South Africa's genocide case against Israel&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>October 7 attack</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel, killing about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, claim&nbsp;Israeli authorities. Hamas had also taken some 250 people as hostages, some of them were later returned as part of a deal in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the attack, Israel responded with several strikes on Gaza and have continued its offensive since then killing at least 23,210 people, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is a genocide</strong></h2>

<p>The intentional killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group is regarded as genocide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The United Nations Genocide Convention in 1948 defined genocide as any of five "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".&nbsp;</p>

<p>A document by the UN mentioned that Polish lawyer Raphäel Lemkin first coined the word "genocide" in 1944 in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. The word consists of the Greek prefix genos, which means race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, which means killing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Israel on Thursday (Jan 11) called South Africa a "legal arm" of Hamas militants as lawyers presented a "genocide" case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Israel on Thursday (Jan 11) called South Africa a "legal arm" of Hamas militants as lawyers presented a "genocide" case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Lior Haiat, who is the foreign ministry spokesman, described South Africa's case over Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as "one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history". South Africa claimed that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and demanded an emergency suspension of the military campaign in Gaza. Also read: UN launches info-gathering mission on Hamas' alleged sexual violence in Israel Israel has dismissed the case as "atrocious" and "preposterous" and vowed to set out a robust defence on Friday. Pretoria's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said that "no armed attack on a state territory, no matter how serious... can provide justification for or defend breaches of the convention". He added that "Israel's response to the October 7 attack has crossed this line and given rise to the breaches of the convention". On the day the case was being heard, thousands of pro-Israeli protesters gathered in front of the UN's top court, carrying Israeli and Dutch flags. They were also carrying posters with images of people taken hostage by Hamas. Also read: UK to send warships, aircraft carrier to Indian Ocean for joint training with Indian forces Separately, a pro-Palestinian march was also present with red and green coloured smoke symbolising the Palestinian flag. Heavy police presence made sure both sides do not clash, leading to a situation of chaos in two days of hearings, as the World Court will hear South Africa's arguments on Thursday and Israel's response on Friday. Later this month, a ruling on the emergency measures is expected. The court will not rule at that time on the genocide allegations. Watch: Panel of 17 Judges presides over South Africa's genocide case against Israel × October 7 attack Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel, killing about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, claim Israeli authorities. Hamas had also taken some 250 people as hostages, some of them were later returned as part of a deal in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. After the attack, Israel responded with several strikes on Gaza and have continued its offensive since then killing at least 23,210 people, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. What is a genocide The intentional killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group is regarded as genocide. The United Nations Genocide Convention in 1948 defined genocide as any of five "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group". A document by the UN mentioned that Polish lawyer Raphäel Lemkin first coined the word "genocide" in 1944 in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. The word consists of the Greek prefix genos, which means race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, which means killing. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel reacts to genocide accusations at UN court hearing, calls South Africa 'legal arm' of Hamas

Israel has been dragged to the International Court of Justice in a landmark case that accuses the Jewish nation of genocide. The hearing in the case, which has been filed by south africa, will continue for the second day. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed South Africa's move, calling out its 'hypocrisy'.

Israel responds to charges  at ICJ, says intention is to destroy Hamas not Palestinian people

South Africa ICJ case against Israel, demands emergency suspension of Israel's offensive | WION

The UN's International Court of Justice heard a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The submission also calls on the court to order Israel to stop military operations there. Watch the report for more details!

Israel Genocide Trial: Panel of 17 Judges presides over South Africa's genocide case against Israel

Israel Genocide Trial: World Court hears South Africa's genocide case against Israel

Dozens of pro-Palestine and pro-Israeli demonstrators gathered outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague during the Israel’s genocide hearing. South Africa filed an application to the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in its war on Gaza.

Israel Genocide Trial: Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protests break outside ICJ building

World court hears South Africa's genocide case against Israel

International Court of Justice to hears South Africa's petition against Israel

<p>The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday and Friday (Jan 11 and Jan 12) will be holding hearings&nbsp;on alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel.</p>

<p>In other news, US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden&nbsp;made an unexpected appearance on Wednesday (Jan 10) at his contempt hearing, before storming out.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-live-icj-to-hear-genocide-case-against-israel-today-678789"><strong>Israel-Hamas war LIVE: ICJ to hear 'genocide case' against Israel today</strong></a></p>

<p>The International Court of Justice (ICJ)&nbsp;will hear a "genocide case" against Israel on Thursday (Jan 11). The case was brought by South Africa.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/11/405018-untitled-design.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-joe-bidens-son-hunter-makes-unexpected-appearance-at-his-own-contempt-hearing-678797"><strong>US: Joe Biden's son Hunter makes unexpected appearance at his own contempt hearing</strong></a></p>

<p>United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter made an unexpected appearance on Wednesday (Jan 10) at his own contempt hearing. At a US House of Representatives hearing, Republican lawmakers were pushing for a vote to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress for not testifying in their impeachment inquiry targeting his father.</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/11/405023-untitled-design-1.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-trump-critic-chris-christie-drops-out-of-2024-white-house-race-678791"><strong>US elections: Trump critic Chris Christie drops out of 2024 presidential race</strong></a></p>

<p>Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dropped out of the Republican presidential nomination race in the 2024 US elections, with a parting shot at frontrunner and former president Donald Trump.</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/11/405019-untitled-design-2024-01-11t075646165.png?imwidth=3840" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/federal-judge-gives-green-light-to-us-first-execution-by-nitrogen-gas-hypoxia-678799"><strong>Federal judge gives green light to US' first execution by nitrogen gas hypoxia</strong></a></p>

<p>Alabama has received the go-ahead for using nitrogen gas to execute a death row inmate later this month. A federal judge on Wednesday halted&nbsp;inmate Kenneth Smith's request for an injunction to stop the execution via nitrogen hypoxia which experts and his lawyers have condemned as cruel and experimental.</p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kashmiri-language-goes-global-included-in-microsoft-google-digital-translators-678803"><strong>Watch | Kashmiri language goes global, included in Microsoft, Google digital translators</strong></a></p>

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday and Friday (Jan 11 and Jan 12) will be holding hearings on alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel. In other news, US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden made an unexpected appearance on Wednesday (Jan 10) at his contempt hearing, before storming out.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday and Friday (Jan 11 and Jan 12) will be holding hearings on alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel. In other news, US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden made an unexpected appearance on Wednesday (Jan 10) at his contempt hearing, before storming out. Click on headlines to read more: Israel-Hamas war LIVE: ICJ to hear 'genocide case' against Israel today The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hear a "genocide case" against Israel on Thursday (Jan 11). The case was brought by South Africa. US: Joe Biden's son Hunter makes unexpected appearance at his own contempt hearing United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter made an unexpected appearance on Wednesday (Jan 10) at his own contempt hearing. At a US House of Representatives hearing, Republican lawmakers were pushing for a vote to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress for not testifying in their impeachment inquiry targeting his father. US elections: Trump critic Chris Christie drops out of 2024 presidential race Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dropped out of the Republican presidential nomination race in the 2024 US elections, with a parting shot at frontrunner and former president Donald Trump. Federal judge gives green light to US' first execution by nitrogen gas hypoxia Alabama has received the go-ahead for using nitrogen gas to execute a death row inmate later this month. A federal judge on Wednesday halted inmate Kenneth Smith's request for an injunction to stop the execution via nitrogen hypoxia which experts and his lawyers have condemned as cruel and experimental. Watch | Kashmiri language goes global, included in Microsoft, Google digital translators ×

Morning news brief: ICJ case against Israel, Hunter Biden attends contempt hearing, and more

Israel will appear before the international court of justice at the ICJ after South Africa accused it of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. South Africa had urged the ICJ on Friday to issue an urgent order to declare that Israel was violating its obligations under the 1948 genocide convention. In response, Israel says it will appear before the court to dispel South Africa's accusations.

South Africa accuses Israel of Genocide; US backs Israel, labels charges baseless | WION

Israel-Hamas war: South Africa files case against Israel in ICJ

In a territorial dispute with neighbouring Guyana, Venezuela voters have rejected the International Court of Justice jurisdiction.

Venezuelans reject International Court of Justice ruling on border dispute ruling | WION Newspoint

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