Hamas’s position before the Hague court
Hamas has stated that it will respect a ceasefire if ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which this Friday will issue its ruling on South Africa’s complaint against Israel for genocide against the Palestinians. “If the court in The Hague decides on a ceasefire, the Hamas Islamic Resistance Movement will adhere to a ceasefire as long as the enemy complies with it,” the group said in a statement on Thursday, in which it stated which is based on “the basic principles of reciprocity and international law.”
Likewise, the group has assured that it will release the more than 100 hostages it still has in its possession if Israel “releases the Palestinian prisoners it has imprisoned.” It also demands that the Jewish State “end its 18-year blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of all the (humanitarian) aid necessary for the relief of the Palestinian people and their reconstruction.”
The decision of the International Court
The ICJ will meet this Friday in a public session to announce whether it grants the precautionary measures requested by South Africa, which would force Israel to an immediate ceasefire in the Strip – although the Israeli government has no intention of abiding by the measure. The decision is part of the case initiated by South Africa on December 29, in which it accuses Israel of having “genocidal intentions” regarding the Palestinian population of Gaza with its military offensive. The hearings on the precautionary measures took place on January 11 and 12, with the countries presenting their arguments on the issue. This Thursday, the Israeli government has shown confidence that the court will reject South Africa’s “baseless and false” accusations, although Benjamin Netanyahu has met with the ministers of Justice and Strategic Affairs, as well as with the attorney general and the head of the General Security Council, to analyze the possible courses of action in response to the decision made this Friday.
In the lawsuit, South Africa asked the ICJ to indicate measures to “protect against further, serious and irreparable harm the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention.” He also accused Israel of having a “genocidal pattern” in policies toward Palestinians and denounced mass killings, forced displacement and dehumanizing language. For its part, Israel rejected the accusations, justified its war in Gaza as its “inherent right to defend its citizens” from Hamas, warned that precautionary measures will prevent the rescue of the hostages and blamed South Africa for presenting a “factual and “deeply distorted legal system” in court.
