Israel has filed a legal response with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), opposing emergency orders to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza amid concerns of a looming famine. The filing made public on Monday, challenges South Africa‘s request for urgent measures, dismissing it as morally objectionable.
In the legal document, Israel underscores its genuine concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its efforts to address the crisis during the ongoing conflict.
Lawyers representing Israel reject accusations of intentionally causing suffering in the enclave, labeling South Africa’s repeated demands for additional measures as an abuse of legal procedures.
The latest exchange between the parties arises within the context of South Africa’s ongoing case, accusing Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza following Hamas militant attacks on October 7.
The ICJ previously ordered Israel to refrain from actions that could violate the Genocide Convention and ensure no genocidal acts occur against Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel maintains its stance of targeting Hamas militants and denies deliberately harming Palestinian civilians. Humanitarian agencies report severe restrictions on aid access to Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people.
ICJ emergency measures aim to prevent a situation from worsening before a full court hearing, which typically takes several years to occur.
