Statement on the ICJ’s ruling on Israel

The ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Israel is a timely warning to Israel to desist from pursuing the course of action seen since the war in Gaza started in October last year by being required to prevent and punish acts of genocide, and to improve the humanitarian situation for the civilians in Gaza, but did not call for an immediate ceasefire.

The ruling took place in a situation with a war in Gaza resulting in 25,000 deaths, over a million displaced people, nearly total destruction of infrastructure and housing, the health and food systems with ensuing starvation.

Concretely, as the ruling did not determine a ceasefire this will necessarily limit the access of humanitarian aid and food to the Gazan people despite the pressure by the ICJ to ease the humanitarian situation. Nevertheless the interim ruling by the ICJ must be considered a diplomatic victory for justice and the Palestinian people, despite the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has announced that Israel would deliberately disregard the ruling of the ICJ.

Inger V. Johansen, Vice-President of the Party of the European Left