Jakarta, January 27, 2024, The Europe Today: The Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued a strong call for Israel to adhere to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision aimed at preventing acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ’s verdict, handed down in The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday (January 26), addressed concerns about the ongoing conflict that has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 26 thousand Palestinian lives.
The ministry, in a statement posted on its official social media account, emphasized the importance of the ICJ’s decision despite acknowledging that it may not have fully met the expectations of all parties regarding the urgency of ending Israeli aggression in Palestine. The statement highlighted the decision as a pivotal development for the enforcement of international law.
During the verdict hearing, the ICJ ruled that Israel must ensure its troops do not commit genocide and outlined specific measures to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The court also mandated Israel to provide a report within a month detailing its efforts to uphold the decision’s outcomes.
While the court did not order a ceasefire, it granted several emergency measures requested by South Africa, which had brought the case accusing Israel of genocide.
In response to the verdict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to defending his country and people. He asserted that Israel’s actions were directed against the Hamas group and not Palestinian civilians. The conflict, initiated by a cross-border attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, has claimed the lives of at least 26 thousand Palestinians, with a majority being women and children. Additionally, 63 thousand others have been reported injured.
The impact of Israel’s aggression on Gaza is severe, with 85 percent of the population displaced amid shortages of essential resources such as food, clean water, and medicine. The United Nations reports that 60 percent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed firm opposition to Netanyahu’s statement rejecting the possibility of a two-state solution. This further underscores the complex nature of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, with Indonesia actively advocating for international legal mechanisms to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
