South Africa has succeeded in their application for Israel to cease fire in Gaza against the Palestinians. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide and cease fire.

The Hague-based body in Netherlands ordered Israel to stop its three-month campaign in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the unprecedented attack by Hamas on 7 October. Delivering her verdict, ICJ President, Joan Donoghue, said some allegations against Israel fall within the provisions of the Genocide Convention. "Israel must ensure its forces do not commit genocide and also ensure preservation of evidence of alleged genocide. The ICJ orders Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide. Israel must ensure its forces do not commit genocide and ensure preservation of evidence of alleged genocide. Israel must report to the court within a month on what it is doing to uphold the order to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza," Donoghue ruled. Donoghue said the court notes that the military operation conducted by Israel has resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries, as well as massive destruction of homes, the forcible displacement of the vast majority of the population and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. "The court recognises the Palestinians' right to be protected from acts of genocide,". Donoghue further said that the ruling creates international legal obligations for Israel.

The ICJ ruling is binding and cannot be appealed, although the court has no power to enforce them. Among the measures, South Africa requested is an immediate halt to Israel's military campaign, which it launched in response to the devastating Hamas-led attack on October 7, when Palestinian terrorists murdered some 1,200 people in a rampage through southern Israel and abducted 253 as hostages to Gaza, where most are still held. During the two days of public hearings two weeks ago, South Africa condemned Hamas for its brutal attack in Israel in October but said there is no justification for the scale of Israel's response in Gaza. South Africa asked the court to order Israel to cease its assault on the Palestinian territory. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 26 000 Palestinians including children have been killed and more than 64 000 wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.