World Court to issue ruling on latest South Africa Gaza claim Friday

The International Court of Justice says it will rule Friday afternoon on South Africa’s request to order a halt to Israel’s Rafah offensive in Gaza.

The court says it will issue the ruling at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. in Israel)

In hearings last week, South Africa had asked the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to order a halt to Israel’s offensive in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular, to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.

The demand for such an emergency measure is part of a larger case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.

Israel has denounced South Africa’s claim that it is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, saying it makes a mockery of the crime of genocide. The court has previously rejected Israel’s demand to throw out the case and has ordered it to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians.