Eleven rights groups urge EU countries to publicly support ICJ provisional measures

The human rights organisations have penned a letter to 16 EU countries urging them to ensure that Israel complies with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures against genocide.

“The EU and member states’ answer has been unsatisfactory. Not enough European states have declared their intention to adhere to the legal obligations instituted by the provisional measures or ensure that Israel applies them,” the organisations said.

On January 26 the ICJ determined the plausibility that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The provisional measures include that Israel will take measures to prevent genocidal acts, and ensure the provision of immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza. Additionally, Israel was ordered to report back to the Court within a month on its implementation of the provisional measures.

The groups further said: “The comparison with the wide support given by EU member states to the preliminary rulings of the ICJ in the context of the wars in Ukraine and in Myanmar have not escaped Palestinian eyes. The difference in treatment between Ukraine and Palestine has led many to note that Europe is operating with a clear double standard concerning the application of the Genocide Convention.”