Amsterdam, 26 January 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to make a preliminary ruling in the genocide proceedings against Israel and decide on Friday on an urgent application to end the military operation in the Gaza war.

The highest judges of the United Nations based in The Hague are not yet expected to rule on the accusation of genocide on Friday. Initially, the judges only plan to deal with the measures demanded by South Africa to protect the Palestinians.

South Africa sued Israel at the end of December for violating the Genocide Convention and demanded an end to military action. Israel should also allow humanitarian aid without restriction.

The court's decisions are binding. The UN judges do not have the power to enforce them, but a negative decision would be a defeat for Israel. International pressure could then increase further.

At the court hearing a fortnight ago, South Africa justified its accusations with the high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip: It is estimated that more than 25,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the war on October 7.

South Africa also quoted Israeli ministers who had called for the Gaza Strip to be wiped out.

Israel rejected the allegations as unfounded and invoked its right to self-defence following the massacre by the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas and other groups on October 7 in which 1,200 people were killed.

Photo: EPA