Fate of civilians in Gaza hangs in the balance following ICJ ruling

Gaza (Quds News Network) – The fate of civilians in Gaza remains a matter of deep concern following the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision calling on Israel to prevent any acts that could amount to genocide in the region.

Particularly, concerns are focused on the major city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, which is witnessing intensive Israeli bombardment and a ground invasion that have led to the displacement of thousands in recent days and severely reduced the operational capacity of Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals, the two largest medical facilities in the province.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 135 Palestinians have been reported dead over the last hours in the ongoing nightly shelling in Khan Yunis and various areas across the Gaza Strip. Israel’s intensified artillery shelling on Khan Yunis and the vicinity of the Nasser Medical Complex also led to power outages and disruptions in multiple services and operations.

Expressing regret, Doctors Without Borders issued a statement highlighting the almost non-existent surgical capacity of Nasser Medical Complex, where the remaining medical staff must cope with critically low supplies of medical equipment.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated in a tweet on X, “As fighting intensifies around Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, #Gaza, hundreds of patients and health workers have fled. Currently 350 patients and 5000 displaced people remain at the hospital.”

“The hospital is running out of fuel, food and supplies,” he continued. “The intense fighting in the vicinity continues. Access to resupply the hospital remains challenging. We appeal for an immediate ceasefire, so that we can replenish urgently needed lifesaving supplies.”

Simultaneously, Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson for Civil Defense in Gaza, reported that heavy rain submerged thousands of tents for displaced individuals in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat Camp, Deir Al-Balah, Gaza City, and northern Gaza. This worsens the plight of tens of thousands of children spending their nights amid heavy rain and extreme cold without adequate coverings and heating, exacerbated by prolonged power cuts and the unavailability of gas.

ICJ recision

The International Court of Justice urged the occupying Israeli regime on Friday to prevent any acts that could amount to “genocide” in Gaza, emphasizing the need for immediate steps to enable the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance. However, the ICJ lacks direct means of enforcing its decisions.

The United Nations Security Council is set to meet next Wednesday to consider the ICJ’s decision, following a request from Algeria seeking to give the ruling “binding force.” The court did not explicitly call for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the Israeli army has been conducting a destructive war since October 7.

The European Union called for the immediate implementation of this decision, while the United States stated that there is “no basis” for it. France affirmed that proving genocide requires “proof of intent.” Brazil, through its Foreign Ministry, called for “full and immediate” respect for the decision, and Turkey, Iran, Spain, and Qatar welcomed the decision.

Despite Israel’s rejection of the ICJ decision and opposition to South Africa’s recourse to the court, Tel Aviv is participating in talks aimed at reaching a “truce” in exchange for the release of detained Israelis in the Gaza Strip, according to Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, the White House announced on Friday that U.S. President Joe Biden discussed with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the recent events in Gaza, including efforts to release those held by Hamas.