Twelve of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations have signed an open letter accusing the country of failing to comply with a preliminary ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that should facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza.
The Hague court made a number of legal claims against Israel when it issued a preliminary judgment in late January in response to a South African complaint accusing Israel of committing genocide in its military operation in Gaza. Ta.
Requirements include taking all measures to prevent intentional harm to civilians, facilitating immediate humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, and preventing and punishing direct or public incitement to genocide; This included preserving evidence of illegal acts committed during the war with Hamas.
The rights group said in the letter that Israel has a legal obligation to implement the court-ordered measures, but has so far failed to do so. Signatories of the letter include military whistleblower group Breaking the Silence and the Israel Civil Rights Association.
“The ICJ’s order is a legal obligation to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. It must be observed not only to alleviate the immediate suffering of civilians, but also for the sake of humanity as a whole.” says the letter. The ICJ also called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all Israeli hostages.
Israel faces new pressure over lack of humanitarian access to Gaza. The US and other countries have airlifted aid to coastal areas, and the US and EU have ordered the opening of maritime corridors to coastal areas.
The letter emerged as UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. He called for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the “necessary speed and large-scale delivery of life-saving aid to Gaza, where the United Nations warns a quarter of the population is in danger.” He called for the removal of all obstacles to ensuring that Of starvation.
On Monday, a Spanish charity ship loaded with food aid prepared to leave Cyprus for the Gaza Strip. The non-governmental organization Open Arms announced that its boat would tow a barge loaded with 200 tons of food, and its partner, the US charity World Central Kitchen, would offload the food to the Gaza coast.
“As members of civil society based in Israel committed to human rights and the rule of law, we are deeply moved by the fact that Israel has so far not changed its behavior based on the measures imposed by the ICJ, and by providing humanitarian assistance. “We condemn the fact that Gaza’s population decreased by 50% in the month following the ruling,” the letter said.
“We demand an immediate ceasefire, which must also include the return of the hostages. requesting that interim measures be implemented.
“Furthermore, we urge the international community to use our collective influence to promote and support the implementation of an immediate ceasefire and interim measures, and to intensify efforts to ensure the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza. I ask you to do something.”
Although the U.N. Supreme Court did not order a cessation of hostilities, the ruling is a tough call for Israel regarding the extent of international legal oversight of the months-long military operation it launched in response to the October 7 Hamas attack. It was considered a warning.
The ruling was seen as a harsh rebuke of Israel’s wartime actions and increased international pressure to halt attacks against the country. This caused widespread civilian destruction and led to the evacuation of more than 75% of the Gaza Strip’s population of 2.3 million.
The interim order was condemned at the time by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the fact that the court was willing to discuss the genocide allegations was “a mark of shame that will last for generations.” .
International human rights organizations have also expressed concern about Israel’s failure to comply with the ICJ’s ruling.
Two weeks ago, Amnesty International warned that Israel’s “failure” to allow access to humanitarian aid came at a time when its population was “on the brink of starvation.”
Heba Molayev said: “Israel has not only caused the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, but has shown callous indifference to the fate of Gazans by creating a situation in which the ICJ puts Gazans at imminent risk of genocide.” ” , Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Israel has repeatedly failed to take the bare minimum steps desperately sought by humanitarian workers that are clearly within its power to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. It’s here.”
