Palestinians in the Gaza Strip argued that the International Court of Justice (International Court of Justice) did not order Israel to halt nearly four months of shelling and ground invasions of the Gaza Strip during a lawsuit filed by South Africa alleging that Israel had committed genocide. He said he was devastated by the ICJ's decision.
On Friday, the World Court imposed a series of interim measures requiring Israel to comply with the 1948 Genocide Convention, allow humanitarian aid to expand to Gaza, and take action against those who make statements of genocide.
However, the court could not order an immediate ceasefire or insist that Israel cease all military activity in the area.
Many Gaza residents say they are disappointed but not surprised. They say they have no confidence in the international community or the international justice system, which has so far failed to end the bloodshed in the enclave.
More than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, and about 1.9 million have been internally displaced, according to the United Nations.
Among them was Ahmed al-Nafal, 54, who was listening intently to the court's announcement outside the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Bala, central Gaza Strip, on Friday.
“I don't trust the international community, but I had a glimmer of hope that the court would issue a ruling on the ceasefire in Gaza,” Al-Naffar told Al-Jazeera.
His high hopes were dashed when he heard the precautionary decision issued in court. He refused to continue his hearing, saying, “The court has failed.”
The father of six has been evacuated and is currently sheltering in a hospital courtyard along with hundreds of other Palestinians.
“Unfortunately, it is shocking that no one is able to live up to the call for a ceasefire. Instead of taking action to encourage a serious ceasefire, everyone is watching for our annihilation,” he told Al Jazeera. told.
“We don't want aid or food. We want a ceasefire, an end to the war and a return to Gaza. [City]”
“Let them kill us all and put us out of this pain.”
Earlier this month, South Africa asked the ICJ to order an emergency halt to Israel's devastating military operation in Gaza.
It said interim measures were necessary “to protect against further serious and irreversible harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention, which continue to be violated with impunity.”
South Africa has filed nine injunctions with the court. This included instructions for Israel to facilitate and not obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Aid currently entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing meets less than 30 percent of the enclave's needs, the Gaza Ministry of Health said. The amount and type of aid is controlled by Israel, which has completely surrounded Gaza since the offensive began.
Al Nafar said he was especially sorry for his wife and five daughters.
“I don't know what to say to my daughters who were left alone in Gaza City under these horrible conditions,” he said.
He was forced to leave Gaza City after Israeli forces arrested him and his 19-year-old son at their home on November 20. They were held in Israeli custody for 24 hours.
During that time, they were interrogated, “severely beaten” and abused, Al-Nafar said, before they were eventually released and ordered to head south of the Strip.
Ms Al-Nafar called her daughters earlier today and assured them that the court's decision was “positive and in our favor” and that they were likely to rule on stopping the assault.
“But I was wrong,” he said. “I'm sad and frustrated. I want us all to die, let them kill us all. Let's drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza and put us out of this suffering.” ”
Separated from his family, Al Nafar spent most of the day thinking about them and trying to contact them.
“My daughters are alone with their mother. They desperately need me by their side in such a horrible situation.”
“No one can stop Israel”
Meanwhile, displaced Palestinian Mohammad Al Minawi said he felt it was pointless to even heed the ICJ's ruling.
The 45-year-old father of five is currently sheltering in a tent outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. He was forced to flee after an attack on his home in Al-Mughraqa district, east of Gaza City.
Like hundreds of thousands of others, he followed instructions from the Israeli military and headed south.
“I am not optimistic…Unfortunately, no one can stop Israel,” Al-Minawi told Al-Jazeera.
Nevertheless, he thanked South Africa and described South Africa's lawsuit against Israel as “unprecedented.” However, he added, this move will not be enough if other countries remain silent.
“Israel has no deterrence. All international and diplomatic decisions support it, and there is no accountability,” al-Minawi said.
If Israel had respected international law, he said, Israeli forces would not have “killed so many women and children and destroyed so many homes in Gaza.”
“Everyone is saying, 'Send aid.' Are you forcing Israel to send aid when they are killing us? Why not give us protection?”
“They'll all be killed within a month.”
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide and frequently boycotts international tribunals and UN investigations, calling them unfair and biased.
The ICJ asked Israel to submit a report within a month outlining the steps it is taking to demonstrate compliance with the interim measures ordered on Friday. South Africa will then be given an opportunity to respond to the report.
Israel will face greater scrutiny over how it carries out military attacks on Gaza, but continuing shelling does not violate the court's decision.
“How can Israel have a whole month to submit a report on not targeting civilians? We will all be exterminated this month,” al-Minawi said. Ta.
Although several rights groups and international organizations have called on Israel to protect civilian lives, Gazans say the majority of victims in the Strip are innocent women and children.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 183 people have been killed and 377 injured across the enclave in the past 24 hours alone.
Since October 7, Israeli attacks have targeted medical facilities, medical workers, and ambulances, as well as thousands of internally displaced people sheltering in hospitals and UN-run facilities.
“The whole world approves of our destruction.”
The military offensive and blockade of the Gaza Strip have particularly affected pregnant women in the Gaza Strip, many of whom are forced to give birth in dangerous and unsanitary conditions amid a collapsed medical sector.
Tahrir Sheikh Khalil is one of the thousands of women currently pregnant who are facing severe shortages of food and clean water. She is currently staying in a tent near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital with her husband and five children.
Her husband was listening to the ICJ's ruling on Friday. Just before her sentencing, Ms. Khalil said her husband was “optimistic” but she was not.
“I'm not optimistic about anything,” a 35-year-old man evacuated from Shati refugee camp told Al Jazeera.
Her husband, Hassan Khalil, 40, said he hoped he would have been able to return to Gaza City “immediately” if the ICJ had ordered an immediate ceasefire.
“We fled five places to get here. First to the UNRWA school in the city center, then to the Al Maghazi area, then to the area along Maghazi Road, and now we are here. They are coming to Deir al-Balah,” Tahrir said.
“No matter what happens, nothing will change our suffering. The wars, killings and destruction will continue,” she added.
The couple echoed the feelings of those around them, saying, “We don't want them to bring aid.” They again called for a permanent ceasefire.
“We are living in tragic conditions here and we cannot continue to live in these conditions,” Hassan said.
“There is no one to support us. No court ruling, no UN resolution, no one can stop Israel. As long as the United States supports Israel, we will continue to suffer.” .
The United States continues to provide military aid, which Israel relies on to continue its attacks. The United States has also provided diplomatic support and vetoed several UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“The whole world approves of our annihilation. That's the sum of things,” Tahrir said.