Israel expects ICJ to order end to Gaza war, increased humanitarian aid in tomorrow’s ruling – reports

Israel expects that the International Court of Justice will rule against it tomorrow when it announces its response to South Africa’s request to order a halt to the Israel Defense Force offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, according to Hebrew media reports.

Last week, South Africa asked the ICJ to order a halt to the entire IDF operation in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular, alleging that the current campaign will make life in the Strip untenable and therefore violate the 1948 Genocide Convention.

The request was South Africa’s fourth application to the court since Israel declared war against Hamas following the terror group’s brutal onslaught on October 7.

Channel 12 cites unnamed officials as saying that while Israel believes that the ICJ will order a halt to the war against Hamas in Gaza in tomorrow’s hearing, Jerusalem does not intend to uphold the ruling.

The report adds that if the court rules in favor of South Africa’s request, the order will be taken to the UN Security Council, where Israel expects that the United States will use its veto power.

In another unsourced report, the Ynet news site assesses that there is a high chance the court will issue additional orders to increase humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Ynet also says that there is a low chance the ICJ will reject South Africa’s request for a cessation of hostilities, a medium chance that the court will accept South Africa’s original demand to halt the war in Gaza and a medium-to-high chance that it will focus its ceasefire order on Rafah.

The demand for the emergency measure is part of a larger case brought before the Hague-based court by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide. Israel has denounced the claims.

A government spokesman, speaking in Jerusalem ahead of the decision, says: “No power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.”

South Africa asked for additional emergency measures to protect Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have been sheltering. It also asked the panel of 15 permanent judges and one ad hoc Israeli judge to order Israel to allow unimpeded access to Gaza for UN officials, organizations providing humanitarian aid, journalists and investigators.

Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.