The Israeli government has failed to comply with at least one measure in the legally binding order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa’s genocide case, Human Rights Watch said today. Citing warnings about “catastrophic conditions” in Gaza, the court ordered Israel on January 26, 2024, to “take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid,” and to report back on its compliance to the specific measures “within one month.”

One month later, however, Israel continues to obstruct the provision of basic services and the entry and distribution within Gaza of fuel and lifesaving aid, acts of collective punishment that amount to war crimes and include the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war. Fewer trucks have entered Gaza and fewer aid missions have been permitted to reach northern Gaza in the several weeks since the ruling than in the weeks preceding it, according to United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“The Israeli government is starving Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, putting them in even more peril than before the World Court’s binding order,” said Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch. “The Israeli government has simply ignored the court’s ruling, and in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.”

Human Rights Watch found in December 2023 that Israeli authorities are using starvation as a weapon of war. Pursuant a policy set out by Israeli officials and carried out by Israeli forces, the Israeli authorities are deliberately blocking the delivery of water, food, and fuel, willfully impeding humanitarian assistance, apparently razing agricultural areas, and depriving the civilian population of objects indispensable to its survival.

      • davepleasebehave@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I suppose there is the idea of honour. Or simply, wanting the world to be sure you are not committing genocide.

        Instead the Israelis have turned a whole generation against them. they will find it hard to travel and be accepted as a civilised people from this point on.

        there is no significant protest in Israel against the genocide. they are complicit. the only protest is against the way things are being done.

      • m13@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        It isn’t an issue of changing rulers. The very foundation of the Zionist states depends upon settler colonialism, apartheid, and genocide - to completely replace the population of an entire region.

  • OccamsTeapot@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    “The Israeli government has simply ignored the court’s ruling, and in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.”

    So what are we going to do about it? Because it better fucking not be absolutely nothing. History will not be kind to us for our response to this.

    If Israel is above the law, why not Putin? Why not Kim Jong Un?

    • doctorcrimson@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Technically, now that the Genocide ruling has come through, a third party invasion of Israel is justified and the invading nation can sue anybody who tries to embargo them over it.

    • rammer@sopuli.xyz
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      4 months ago

      Sure, a complete bloclade of all goods except for humanitarian that is verified by other paperwork to reach the intended recipient. So customs declarations and permits.

  • Lord Wiggle@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Right wing extremists do whatever the fuck they want and don’t care about the judicial system. Haven’t we learned that from WW II?

  • arymandias@feddit.de
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    4 months ago

    I thought the ineptness with which the climate crisis is handled made me loose faith in the status quo. But this is just incredible, in the literal sense of the word. Watching the west openly support, what looks more and more like an active genocide, with words and with weapons. It makes my fucking blood boil.

    • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      And they wonder why we use drugs and alcohol. You can’t treat mental health if there is no healthy reality to return to.

  • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    The mechanism that prevents Israel’s genocide, Russia’s invasion, Chinese expansionism, North Korean brinksmanship, and American taunting and provocative Imperialism is the same: international law.

    As long as the US as the military hegemon rejects international law and courts: efforts to restrict or prevent any of the above will ultimately fail.

    • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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      4 months ago

      I’m not sure whom do you expect to enforce that international law. And the concept itself sucks, for example, some morons would say Western Armenia and Artsakh are parts of Turkey and Azerbaijan in that.

      • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        I mean, the existing framework would be the United Nations. Doesn’t have to be, but it’d have to be one where the permanent members don’t just reject the legitimacy and jurisdiction of international courts to enable invading countries. Those courts should be able to review and perhaps rule on such things like border issues and separatist movements for both standing and substance.

        Pragmatically speaking I would much rather borders change via things like Brexit, Kosovo (after 1999 when UN intervened), and the Crimean referendum vs Donbass-Donetsk, Kosovo (before 1999), or Gaza.

        The above are all complex issues with varied and unfavorable outcomes but the point being there is a very clear dividing line.

        • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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          4 months ago

          Kosovo (after 1999 when UN intervened)

          It appears that this only happens when the aggressor has nothing at all to offer.

          and the Crimean referendum

          I hope you are aware there’s been no real referendum.

          Just Ukrainian military and police on the peninsula generally failed to react, and then under Russian military control there’s been something called referendum.

            • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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              4 months ago

              Suffering isn’t limited to violent military action, then murder, rape, looting, vandalism of cultural heritage may follow.

              In case of Ukraine - those “pro-Russian” forces were comprised of bandits basically, who would do extrajudicial executions of those they didn’t like, seize properties etc.

  • John_McMurray@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Did Israel even ever sign the treaty establishing this court? I’m not pro Israel but i feel this is misleading.

  • nexusband@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    So, if i remember correctly, doesn’t that mean Israel could get the status of state deprived?

  • NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone
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    4 months ago

    Every genocide attempt ever they think they can just stall it out until they’ve finished the job. Every time the next generation pays for the sins of the fathers.

    • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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      4 months ago

      they think they can just stall it out until they’ve finished the job.

      And they are usually right

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 months ago

      No the amount of trucks going in are actually dropping.

      The north has not received an aid truck since 23 January.

      UNRWA says that after the ICJ said “don’t do Genocide’” last month israel reduced the amount of trucks entering by 50%

      Current estimates are 85 out of the “normal” 500 trucks. And Palestinians in Gaza were already underfed with 500.