ICJ ruling unlikely to alter Gaza situation

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on implementing the ceasefire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip will not alter the battlefield situation, said Mohammad Elmasry, a teacher at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

He said, "Israel's conduct in recent months demonstrates a disregard for international law. Each enactment of these orders or laws exacerbates non-cooperation."

"Unless the involved states directly convey to Israel that they've had enough and demand an immediate cessation, I don't foresee any changes happening," he added.

South Africa has recently petitioned the ICJ to mandate the cessation of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip. In the petititon, South Africa alleged that the ground operation in Rafah represented a disturbing escalation of Israeli actions amounting to genocide in Gaza.

During the court hearing, South African lawyer Von Lowy said, "The Rafah operation was the last step in Gaza's devastation."

Emphasizing the need to protect Palestinians from genocide, he said, "The Palestinian people need protection from genocide. And this court can order a ceasefire."

Israeli lawyers dismissed the South African case as "absurd" and rejected allegations of violating the 1948 Genocide Act.

Earlier, the ICJ directed Russia to cease its attacks on Ukraine, but Moscow did not comply.

"Simply labeling something as genocide over and over does not make it so. Repeating a falsehood does not make it factual. While a tragic war is underway, there is no massacre," said Gilad Noam, one of Israel's top lawyers.

Earlier this month, Israel initiated a ground operation in parts of Rafah, challenging the international community, including its key ally, the United States, and leading to the displacement of over 800,000 people.

However, the ICJ's rule against Israel will lead to an escalation in international legal pressure on the country.