The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will rule on Friday on South Africa’s request to order a halt to Israel’s Rafah offensive in southern Gaza, the court said on Thursday.

According to ICJ, a public sitting will take place at 3 pm (local time) at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the Court, will read out the Court’s Order.

Last week, South Africa had asked the ICJ to order a halt to Israel’s offensive in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular, saying this was necessary to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.

The demand for such an emergency measure is part of a larger case brought before the ICJ by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.

The order is a response to the request for the modification and the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa on 10 May 2024 in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Although the rulings of the UN’s International
Court of Justice are binding, the court does not have the means to enforce compliance with its decisions. However, it can call upon the UN Security Council to take action.

Source: Qatar News Agency