UN’s top court on Friday issued interim ruling in case brought by South Africa against Israel.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Saudi Arabia led the Muslim world in welcoming a preliminary decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which aimed to stop any practices and statements aimed at genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The UN’s top court on Friday issued an interim ruling in a case brought by South Africa against Israel last year, stopping short of ordering a ceasefire in the enclave. But it demanded that Israel attempted to limit deaths and damage caused by its military offensive there.
Besides Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Pakistan also supported the ICJ ruling, reports reaching here said on Saturday.
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of the practices of the Israeli occupation and violations of the UN Convention on Genocide.
The ministry also praised the efforts of South Africa and stressed the importance of the international community taking further measures to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, providing protection for the Palestinian people, and holding the Israeli occupation forces accountable for any violations of international law.
Qatar’s foreign ministry “welcomed the provisional measures” ordered by the ICJ, calling them a “victory for humanity… and international justice.”
Kuwait welcomed an “important step” in the conflict, emphasising the “imperative” for Israel to “respect this decision as well as the principles of international law, humanitarian law and UN resolutions,” according to a foreign ministry press release.
The UAE also welcomed the ICJ’s preliminary rulings and reaffirmed the importance of providing protection for civilians, and ensuring the entry and delivery of humanitarian and relief aid urgently, sustainably and without impediment.
Through a foreign affairs ministry statement, the UAE also reiterated the importance of achieving the two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state.
Pakistan President Dr. Arif Alvi said the ICJ ruling was outstanding.
“Israel must immediately stop the genocide and bloodshed of the innocent civilians in Gaza”, he said in a statement.
He said the ruling had exposed the inhuman acts and barbarism being committed by Israel, adding that Israel had transgressed all boundaries of humanity by targeting women, children, and hospitals and didn’t even spare people who were standing in queue for food.
