The court outlined in its new decision that, following a request from South Africa, Israel must ensure that its forces do not commit any actions that violate the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, and must ensure the prompt entry of essential food supplies to the inhabitants of the territory.

Furthermore, Israel has been instructed to provide the court with a report detailing all measures taken to implement its decisions within one month. The court emphasized that the Palestinians in Gaza are facing difficult living conditions amid widespread famine.

"We note that the Palestinians in Gaza are not only facing the risk of famine, but that famine has already emerged," stated the court.

In related remarks, the South African presidency indicated that "the most effective way to support the Palestinians' right to existence is through the genocide prevention measures outlined by the court."

The presidency added in its first comment on the court's new order that "if Israel does not comply with the International Court of Justice's decisions today, the international community must ensure this compliance."

South Africa requested these new measures as part of its ongoing case accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

A Harrowing Situation

In an independent "opinion" appended to its Thursday ruling, Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice, recalled the UN Secretary-General's description of the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gazam during his recent visit to Rafah, describing it as "horrifying that, after so much suffering over many months, the Palestinians in Gaza are observing Ramadan while Israeli bombs continue to fall, bullets fly, artillery shells bombard, and humanitarian aid encounters one obstacle after another."

To illustrate the severity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Salam referenced a joint study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, estimating that “in the next six months, if epidemics do not spread in Gaza, there would be 6550 deaths if a ceasefire is implemented. However, the number would increase to 58260 if the current situation continues, and to 74290 in case of escalation. Should epidemics spread, the study predicts the numbers to rise to 11580, 66720, and 85750 respectively.”

Call for a Ceasefire

Salam highlighted the importance of "new measures adopted by the court on Thursday, obligating Israel, in accordance with the 'Genocide Convention,' to remove all obstacles hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid (food and medical), with the required quantity and speed, and to prevent its army from committing any acts that threaten any of the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza, as a group protected by the convention."

However, Salam emphasized that "these measures cannot fully achieve their intended effects unless there is actual compliance with the decision for a ceasefire for Ramadan, issued by the Security Council a few days before the International Court of Justice adopted its new measures, and unless a permanent ceasefire is established."