The Palestinian militant organization Hamas declared on Thursday that it would respect a truce in its conflict with Israel in Gaza provided it was mandated by the UN’s top court and Israel followed suit.
The International Court of Justice is set to rule on Friday in a historic lawsuit launched by South Africa against Israel over alleged genocide in Gaza.
In a statement, the militant group said, “In case The Hague-based ICJ issues a ruling to the cease-fire, the Hamas movement will abide by it as long as the enemy does the same”.
South Africa claims that Israel violates the United Nations Genocide Convention, which was enacted in 1948 as a response to the Holocaust.
Pretoria wants the ICJ to adopt so-called provisional measures, which are emergency directives that protect Palestinians in Gaza from suspected violations of the convention.
The ICJ’s orders, which resolve international disputes, are legally binding and cannot be appealed.
However, the court has limited authority to implement its rulings; for example, it ordered Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine one month after it began, but to no avail.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously intimated that he would not be bound by any ICJ order.
“No one will stop us — not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil, and no one else”, Netanyahu declared on January 14, referring to Iran-aligned ‘axis of resistance’ groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
In addition, Hamas stated that it will exchange Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails for Israeli hostages it holds in Gaza if the cease-fire ruling is upheld.
It also demanded that Israel lift its ongoing embargo of the Gaza Strip, over which the organization dominates, and that humanitarian supplies and reconstruction materials be allowed into the enclave.
The conflict started when Hamas and other terrorists from Gaza launched an unprecedented October 7 onslaught on Israel, resulting in about 1,140 deaths, largely civilians.
According to Israeli reports, 250 Israelis and foreigners were hauled to Gaza during the attack, with around 132 still held captive.
In response, Israel vowed to smash Hamas and launched a relentless military operation that, according to the Palestinian health ministry, has killed at least 25,900 people, with around 70% of them being women and children.
Also read: Genocide Case Against Israel To Be Heard By World Court Today
