NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is likely to meet to discuss the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) interim ruling on Israel’s war in Gaza on Wednesday (today) at 11am New York time.
According to Arab media, the meeting comes as Israel confirmed it is “channelling large volumes of water” into tunnels in the Gaza Strip, one of the examples quoted in South Africa’s case against Israel at the world’s court.
“Recent reports of Israeli designs to flood tunnels in the Gaza Strip with seawater is of extreme concern,” South Africa quoted as part of its evidence accusing Israel is causing the “mass expulsion” of Palestinian people from Gaza.
South Africa stated the plan could cause “long-lasting contamination of Gaza’s aquifer and soil” and “further deprivation and collapse of Gaza’s water and sewage structure”.
#FrPrez | The Security Council will hold a meeting on the situation in the #MiddleEast, tomorrow at 11am. pic.twitter.com/rzL8xSOXbR
— La France à l'ONU 🇫🇷🇺🇳 (@franceonu) January 30, 2024
Earlier, the top UN court on Friday ordered Israel to take all steps within its power to stop acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The ICJ in its order also asked Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave. A panel of 17-judges stated that it has jurisdiction to rule over emergency steps sought by South Africa in its case against Israel’s war in the Strip. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said it would not dismiss the case, as Israel pleaded.
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Joan E. Donoghue, the court’s president stated, the ICJ is aware of the extent of the human tragedy in the region and is deeply concerned regarding the continuing loss of life and human lives.
The court also noted Palestinians appear to be a protected group under the Genocide Convention, emphasizing it recognizes the right of Palestinians in the Strip to be protected from all acts of genocide.
