Application of the Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) – Provisional Measures – Court to deliver its Order on Friday 26 January 2024 at 1 p.m. – ICJ Press Release

24 January 2024

No. 2024/4

Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)

Request for the indication of provisional measures

The Court to deliver its Order on Friday 26 January 2024 at 1 p.m.

THE HAGUE, 24 January 2024. On Friday 26 January 2024, the International Court of Justice will deliver its Order on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). A public sitting will take place at 1 p.m. at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Joan E. Donoghue, the President of the Court, will read the Court’s Order.

It is recalled that on 29 December 2023, South Africa filed an Application instituting proceedings against Israel concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”) in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In its Application, South Africa also requested the Court to indicate provisional measures in order to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention” and “to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention not to engage in genocide, and to prevent and to punish genocide” (see press release No. 2023/77).

Public hearings on South Africa’s request were held on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 January 2024.

Earlier press releases relating to this case are available on the Court’s website.

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Members of the diplomatic corps, the public and the media will find below practical information regarding the organization of the sitting.

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A. Practical information and admission procedures

There will be no parking on the Peace Palace grounds.

1. Members of the diplomatic corps

Owing to the considerable interest in the case and the limited number of seats available in the Great Hall of Justice, only one seat will be allocated per embassy. Members of the diplomatic corps who wish to attend the sitting are requested to kindly fill out an online registration form by 1 p.m. (The Hague time) on Thursday 25 January 2024. If capacity is reached before the indicated deadline, the online registration process may be closed sooner. No requests received by phone or email will be accepted.

Diplomats will be given a badge providing access to the Great Hall of Justice on presenting a confirmation of registration from the Information Department and valid diplomatic ID at the main gate of the Peace Palace on the day of the sitting. There will be no access granted once the sitting has commenced.

2. Members of the public:

Only 15 seats will be available in the public gallery for members of the public on a first-come first-served basis. There will be no advance registration procedure, and admission requests submitted beforehand will not be considered. Members of the public wishing to attend the sitting are requested to present themselves at the main gate of the Peace Palace 40 minutes before the start of the sitting at the latest. They will be given a badge providing access to the public gallery on presentation of valid ID.

3. Media representatives

Media representatives who wish to attend the sitting are requested to kindly fill out an online accreditation form by 1 p.m. (The Hague time) on Thursday 25 January 2024. The Court’s press rooms can accommodate 100 people, therefore no more than two persons per media organization will be accredited. Accreditation requests will be considered on a first-come first-served basis. If capacity is reached before the indicated deadline, the online accreditation process may be closed sooner. No requests received by phone or email will be accepted.

B. Further practical information for the media

1. Entry to the Peace Palace

Only duly accredited individuals with valid identification will be permitted to enter the Peace Palace grounds. Accredited media representatives must bring with them their personal ID and press card. They are asked to arrive at the Peace Palace gates no later than 30 minutes before the start of the sitting. The press rooms will be open one and a half hours before the start of the sitting and will close one hour after it concludes.

2. Access to the courtroom
A limited number of professional photographers and camera operators will be permitted to enter the courtroom for a few minutes at the start of the sitting. They will be accompanied by members of the Information Department. Other media representatives will not have access to the courtroom.

3. Press Rooms

The sitting will be transmitted live on large screens in the two official languages of the Court, English and French, in two press rooms equipped with shared internet access (Wi-Fi and Ethernet). TV crews can connect to the Court’s PAL (HD and SD) and NTSC (SD) audiovisual system, and radio reporters to the audio system.

4. Multimedia

The sitting will be streamed live and on demand (VOD) in the two official languages of the Court, English and French, on the Court’s website and on UN Web TV. High-resolution video clips and still photos produced by the Registry during the sitting will be available on the Court’s website free of charge and free of copyright for editorial, non-commercial use (to download, click on Multimedia) and X (formerly Twitter) feed (@CIJ_ICJ).

Upon the conclusion of the sitting, the Order, a summary of the Order, and any opinions or declarations of Members of the Court appended thereto will be published on the Court’s website and on its LinkedIn and X accounts.

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Note: The Court’s press releases are prepared by its Registry for information purposes only and do not constitute official documents.

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system.