The Brazilian government welcomes the adoption by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on May 24, of additional provisional measures in the proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel, based on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The Court determined that recent developments, described as "exceptionally grave," "in particular the military offensive in Rafah and the resulting repeated large-scale displacement of the already extremely vulnerable Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip", warrant the supplementation of its previous decisions.
The Court reaffirmed its provisional measures from January and March and additionally ordered Israel to: immediately halt the military operation and any other actions in Rafah that could lead to the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza; keep the passage in the locality open for access to humanitarian assistance and emergency services; take effective measures to ensure access to Gaza for missions mandated by the United Nations to investigate allegations of genocide; and submit a report within one month on the compliance with the decision.
Recalling the binding nature of the Court's provisional measures, the Brazilian government hopes they will result in urgent humanitarian relief for Gaza and foster a political dialogue environment conducive to a definitive ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and the resumption of negotiations for a two-state solution, with an independent and viable State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital