Israel must take "all measures within its power" to prevent genocide
The International Federation of Journalists will initiate legal action against Israel if it does not adhere with orders made by the International Court of Justice.
In December, South Africa filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), claiming it had breached obligations under the genocide convention in the Gaza Strip.
The ICJ judgment published on 26 January orders Israel to “take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope” of the genocide convention. Israel must also “ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts” in scope of the convention.
Following Friday’s judgment, the IFJ has written to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister and Yoav Gallant, defence minister, urging them to adhere to international law and do all in their power to protect civilians, including journalists. The Federation has stressed it will initiate legal action in the international courts against politicians and Israeli Defence Force commanders if Israel does not commit to the orders of the ICJ, regarding the targeting of journalists. In its judgment, the ICJ ordered Israel to submit a report to the Court on measures taken within one month.
According to records held by the International Federation of Journalists, at least 96 journalists have been killed in the Israel-Palestine war, with the majority of these (90) Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Reports of Israel’s use of artificial intelligence platforms such as Gospel to generate bombing targets has led to increased concern over its capabilities to deliberately target journalists, and the IFJ has urged the Israeli government to answer accusations of intentional targeting.
The NUJ has called for an International Criminal Court investigation into the killings of journalists, as the unprecedented death toll continues to rise. The union has repeatedly called for the immediate release of all hostages and for a mutual cessation of violence, with a permanent ceasefire declared.
Read the letter from the IFJ to Israeli ministers.