The UN Security Council is set to convene next week in response to the recent decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which called for Israel to take measures to prevent genocidal acts in the Gaza conflict. The meeting was initiated by Algeria, whose Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the binding nature of the ICJ’s pronouncement on provisional measures imposed on the Israeli occupation.
While the ICJ ruled on Friday that Israel must prevent genocidal acts in its conflict with Hamas and permit aid into Gaza, it fell short of explicitly calling for an immediate end to the hostilities. The decision underscores the necessity for a ceasefire to implement the prescribed measures, according to Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN.
The Arab Group, represented by Algeria on the Security Council, is expected to advocate for a ceasefire during the upcoming meeting. The Security Council, historically divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, has only reached consensus on two resolutions since the initiation of the latest round of conflict prompted by the October 7 Hamas attacks.
In December, the Security Council called for substantial aid deliveries to Gaza’s besieged population, while the United States, a staunch ally of Israel, resisted calls for a ceasefire despite international pressure. The current conflict, initiated by an unprecedented Hamas attack, has resulted in approximately 1,140 deaths in Israel, mainly civilians, and the seizure of around 250 hostages. Israel has committed to crushing Hamas and launched a military offensive, causing significant casualties, particularly among women and children, as reported by the health ministry in Gaza.
While refraining from an immediate cessation of the nearly four-month-long war, the ICJ mandated that Israel take all necessary actions to “prevent the commission of all acts within the scope” of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
