Last Friday, the ICJ ruled on provisional measures in South Africa's case against Israel over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. The court ordered Israel to take urgent measures to prevent acts of genocide and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave. At the same time, the ICJ did not order an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. A source in the UN Security Council told Sputnik that Algeria had requested a meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to be held on January 31.
"The ruling must speak to the conscience of other nations and members of the Security Council ... They must respond in compliance with the order," Lamola was quoted as saying by the media.
If the steps by the UN Security council are blocked by the United States, South Africa is planning to apply to the UN General Assembly, the minister reportedly added.
On October 7, 2023, the Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 26,600 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.