Južnoafrička Republika tvrdi da je Izrael počinio i da čini genocid nad Palestincima u Pojasu Gaze, kršeći Konvenciju o genocidu, uključujući ono što je Južnoafrička Republika opisala kao izraelski apartheid od 75 godina, 56-godišnju okupaciju i 16-godišnju blokadu Pojasa.[2] Južnoafrička Republika je zatražila da Međunarodni sud pravde ukaže na privremene mjere zaštite, uključujući trenutnu obustavu operacija Izraela.[3][4][5][6] Izrael je optužbe Južnoafričke Republike okarakterisao kao "neosnovane", optužujući tu zemlju da "funkcioniše kao legalna ruka" Hamasa.[7][8] Izrael je rekao da vodi rat za samoodbranu u skladu s međunarodnim pravom nakon napada pod vodstvom Hamasa na njegovu teritoriju 7. oktobra 2023.[9]
Dvodnevna javna saslušanja održana su 11. i 12. januara 2024. u Palati mira u Hagu.[10] Sud je zaključio da je moguće da bi akcije Izraela u Pojasu Gaze mogle predstavljati genocid i izdao privremene mjere,[11] u kojima je naredio Izraelu da preduzme sve mjere kako bi spriječio bilo kakve radnje suprotne Konvenciji o genocidu iz 1948,[12][13][14] ali nije naredio Izraelu da obustavi svoju vojnu kampanju.[15] Sud je također izrazio zabrinutost za sudbinu talaca držanih u Pojasu Gaze[16] i priznao katastrofalnu situaciju u Gazi.[17] Krajem februara, Human Rights Watch i Amnesty International su tvrdili da Izrael nije postupio u skladu s privremenim mjerama Suda i da ometanje ulaska i distribucije pomoći predstavlja ratne zločine.[18][19]
Dana 28. marta 2024, nakon drugog zahtjeva za dodatnim mjerama, Međunarodni sud pravde je naredio nove hitne mjere, naređujući Izraelu da bez odlaganja osigura osnovne zalihe hrane, jer se stanovnici Gaze suočavaju s glađu.[20][21] Dana 24. maja, sa 13 glasova za i dva protiv, Sud je izdao ono što su neki stručnjaci smatrali dvosmislenom naredbom, ali koja je široko shvaćena kao da zahtijeva od Izraela da odmah zaustavi svoju ofanzivu na Rafah.[22][23][24][25] Izrael je odbacio ovo tumačenje i nastavio sa svojim ofanzivnim operacijama.[26]
^Powell, Anita (January 5, 2024). "South Africa to Take Israel to Top UN Court on Genocide Claim in Gaza". Voice of America. Arhivirano s originala, 6 January 2024. Pristupljeno January 6, 2024. In the court application, South Africa argues that the treatment of Palestinians also bears strong resemblance to South Africa's own racially motivated apartheid regime, which ended in 1994 with Mandela's election. "It is important," the submission reads, "to place the acts of genocide in the broader context of Israel's conduct towards Palestinians during its 75-year-long apartheid, its 56-year-long belligerent occupation of Palestinian territory and its 16-year-long blockade of Gaza, including the serious and ongoing violations of international law associated therewith, including grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and other war crimes and crimes against humanity."
^The request for provisional measures is made under Article 74 of the Rules of the CourtArhivirano 6. 1. 2024. na Wayback Machine, which states that "A request for the indication of provisional measures shall have priority over all other cases."
^Gaza: ICJ ruling offers hope for protection of civilians enduring apocalyptic conditions, say UN experts. OHCHR. 31 January 2024. "The ICJ found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide and issued six provisional measures, ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocidal acts, including preventing and punishing incitement to genocide, ensuring aid and services reach Palestinians under siege in Gaza, and preserving evidence of crimes committed in Gaza."
^Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), Provisional Measures, Order of 26 January 2024.
^"Isolated Israel argues U.N. court ruling leaves door open to Rafah offensive". NBC News. 27 May 2024. It was widely viewed as an unambiguous statement: The top United Nations court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on Rafah — a dramatic intervention that left the nation and its chief ally, the U.S., increasingly isolated on the world stage.