UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored on Friday the binding nature of the International Court of Justice’s rulings after it directed Israel to cease military operations in southern Gaza.
“The Secretary-General emphasizes that decisions of the International Court of Justice are binding, and he expects the parties to comply with the court’s order,” stated his spokesman Stephane Dujarric to reporters.
These comments followed the top UN court’s directive on Friday for Israel to “immediately” cease its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.Guterres will also properly transmit the notice of provisional measures ordered by the Court to the Security Council, Dujarric added.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and withdraw from the enclave. This ruling came in a case brought by South Africa, which has accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
In Friday’s decision, the 15-judge panel at the ICJ cited the “immense risk” to Palestinian civilians in ordering Israel to cease its military operations. The action marks the third time this year the ICJ has issued preliminary orders seeking to curb the escalating death toll and alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.