Israel defying global court order in genocide case, Human Rights Watch warns

The Israeli Government has failed to comply with at least one measure in the legally binding order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa's genocide case, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

Citing warnings about "catastrophic conditions" in besieged Gaza, the global court ordered Israel in January, to take immediate measures to ensure the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid, and to report back on its compliance with the specific measures within one month.

Human Rights Watch reported today at the ICJ that despite a month passing since the World Court's order, Israel is still impeding the delivery of essential services and the entry and distribution of fuel and life-saving aid in Gaza.

This obstruction, the human body says constitutes collective punishment and is deemed as war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon against civilians.

"The Israeli government is starving Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, putting them in even more peril than before the World Court's binding order," said Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch.

"The Israeli government has simply ignored the court's ruling, and in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid."

The rights watch body urged countries to use "all forms of leverage, including sanctions and embargoes", to press the Israeli government to comply with the court's binding orders in the genocide case.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will convene his Cabinet early this week "to approve the operational plans for action in Rafah," including the evacuation of civilians.

About 1.5 million people are taking refuge in the city, with American officials saying they cannot support an Israeli ground offensive there without a credible plan for their protection.