It has been over 5 months since the October 7 Hamas massacre and the start of Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip. We mourn our loved ones and fear for the lives of the Israeli hostages. We are deeply pained by the desperate humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza as a result of the Israeli bombardment – over 30,000 people have been killed, more than 75% of the population has been internally displaced, the health care system is collapsing, and the entire population faces crisis levels or worse of food insecurity.

Against this background, South Africa initiated proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that Israel is responsible for genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. While the Court has yet to rule on the merits of the case, on 26 January 2024, the ICJ issued an order of provisional measures that Israel is legally obliged to implement. These include taking all measures to prevent intentional harm to civilians, facilitating immediate humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, preventing and punishing direct or public incitement to genocide, preserving evidence of any wrongful acts, and reporting to the ICJ on all the measures taken to give effect to the order. In addition, as part of the decision, the ICJ urged Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all the Israeli hostages.

As members of Israel-based civil society committed to human rights and the rule of law, we condemn the fact that Israel has so far failed to change its behaviour based on the measures imposed by the ICJ, as well as the fact that humanitarian aid to Gaza dropped by 50% in the month following the ruling.

We call for an immediate ceasefire, which must include the return of the hostages. We urge the Israeli government to comply with the ICJ order and implement the court’s provisional measures, which are essential to mitigating and overcoming the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Moreover, we call on the international community to use its collective influence to promote and support an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of the provisional measures, and to increase its efforts to ensure that the Israeli hostages are returned from Gaza.

The ICJ order is a legal obligation to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. It must be abided by, not only to ease the urgent suffering of civilians but for the sake of humanity as a whole.

Association for Civil Rights in Israel | Bimkom | Breaking the Silence | Combatants for Peace | Emek Shaveh | Gisha | Hamoked | Ir Amim | Physicians for Human Rights Israel | Public Committee Against Torture in Israel | Torat Tzedek | Yesh Din