The UN Security Council is set to convene next week to discuss the recent decision by the global body’s highest court, which has called on Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza, as announced by the council’s presidency on Friday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria called for the Wednesday meeting, emphasizing its intention to enforce the binding effect of the International Court of Justice’s pronouncement on the provisional measures imposed on the Israeli occupation.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared on Friday that Israel must take measures to prevent genocidal acts in its conflict with Hamas and allow aid into Gaza. However, the court did not explicitly call for an immediate cessation of the fighting.
The decision “gives the clear message that in order to do all the things that they are asking for, you need a ceasefire for it to happen,” Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said.
“So fasten your seat belts,” he said, hinting that the Arab Group, represented on the council by Algeria, would push for one.
The Security Council, long divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, has only agreed to two resolutions since the October 7 Hamas attacks sparked the latest round of fighting.
In December, it demanded aid deliveries “at scale” to Gaza’s besieged population, while Israel’s ally the United States has kept out calls for a ceasefire despite international pressure.
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The present clashes originated from an unparalleled Hamas attack, leading to roughly 1,140 casualties in Israel, predominantly civilian, according to official Israeli figures analyzed by AFP.
In addition to the capture of about 250 hostages, militants have retained control over approximately 132 individuals in Gaza, which includes the remains of at least 28 deceased captives, according to Israel’s official statement.
Vowing to eradicate Hamas, Israel has commenced a military offensive, resulting in a death toll of at least 26,083 individuals, with about 70 percent being women and children, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), situated in The Hague, stopped short of demanding an instant cessation to the nearly four-month-long conflict but insisted that Israel take every measure to “prevent the commission of all acts within the scope” of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.