FT: ICJ’s Israel judgment seeks to restore rule of law to a brutal conflict

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has granted Israel an opportunity to present evidence of its adherence to international law while facing genocide charges related to its conflict with Hamas. The court's interim rulings, while not calling for a halt to Israel's campaign, signal a legal challenge and monitoring of Israel's actions. Legal experts suggest that Israel has a chance to demonstrate compliance with international law, but the situation presents a dilemma for conveying this effectively. The complexities of international humanitarian law allow both sides to seek a ruling based on impartiality. Palestinians view the case as a chance for justice under international law, while Israeli leaders express concerns about potential unfair judgment and damage to Israel's profile. The court has ordered Israel to provide a report on limiting civilian harm within 30 days. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is separately investigating war crimes allegations against both Israel and Hamas. The existence of these cases raises concerns in Israel about being judged unfairly on the international stage.

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By Mehul Srivastava in London and James Shotter in Jerusalem for The Financial Times

In its politically incendiary but legally nuanced hearing on Friday, the UN's highest court made one thing clear: Israel's battle with Hamas will ultimately be judged against the international norms of how war ought to be waged.

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