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fullscreen The Peace Palace that houses the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Archive image. Photo: Peter Dejong/AP/TT
South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to impose new emergency measures against Israel due to the country’s recent offensive against the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, the ICJ said in a statement.
South Africa has repeatedly asked the court to impose measures against Israel due to the war in the Gaza Strip. In January, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent acts that could constitute genocide in the area.
The ICJ in The Hague is the UN’s highest court and deals with disputes between states.
The court was established with the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. Its judgments and decisions are legally binding on states that acceded – including Israel – but in practice the chances of ensuring compliance are slim.