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Police carry a security fence near the Peace Palace. AP
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A demonstrator waves the Palestinian flag in front of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, in The Hague. AFP
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A pro-Palestinian demonstrator outside the International Court of Justice which was delivering an interim ruling on South Africa's genocide case against Israel. Reuters
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South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, centre, addresses reporters after the court session. AP
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People embrace during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian population, in The Hague. EPA
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Presiding judge Joan Donoghue speaks during the session at the International Court of Justice. AP
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South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and Vusimuzi Madonsela, the country's ambassador to the Netherlands, confer during the session. EPA
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Judges at the International Court of Justice. Reuters
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Residents gather at the Dullah Omar Centre in Cape Town to watch the ruling in The Hague. AFP
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British jurist Malcolm Shaw, centre, and Gilad Noam, left, Israel's Deputy Attorney General for International Affairs, attend the session. AP
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Israelis watch a live stream of the court session at a TV shop in Jerusalem. EPA
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Police officers in front of the Peace Palace. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/35QFSC2RSZJXMIBEYEY46MGBYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fcaeb0bc41dc7fbe0a18a1f3a9081f053892cb2e6fd8d4cae40188c97f618130&width=400&height=225)
Police carry a security fence near the Peace Palace. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJVMVMUHNUVACQS55WCNAPHD7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cdf7a22c64c692ca7f1688828671a523bf63a0e1ef274f3930d8849fc73e2f9&width=400&height=225)
A demonstrator waves the Palestinian flag in front of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, in The Hague. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3NHED57GH7CIA5WEIQLZWX2FNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=24c88c0951486739e2de5f295ed480ac5fc1110d3c5f3fc7f62abfbc7fc5da5c&width=400&height=225)
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator outside the International Court of Justice which was delivering an interim ruling on South Africa's genocide case against Israel. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IWT4Z2Y2ZFG7J5B45QIZXHODDI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a0554754e9eba973a4da1384fff1549ba60e45bfa475c1a53691bd1b2ba79c2&width=400&height=225)
South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, centre, addresses reporters after the court session. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U62IYSPOWHVO5JJ35BYGOXWM34.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b6c09ac3fe9ce716d29ff20b082ab5c5cd4147ae005e481ae306004365076aa&width=400&height=225)
People embrace during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian population, in The Hague. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGY7QWMOLKR5JUDNBOIUMMJ5LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b89a9f266d65aa7a9b0476c8212461d74d63fbeb3b3bc1f7fad32a6b00207780&width=400&height=225)
Presiding judge Joan Donoghue speaks during the session at the International Court of Justice. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAORJNWB4JR4RRKNZ25U7MD5OM.jpg?smart=true&auth=36fe654fcc562ed1676394aeb0571cdf45ed2f2179fab0c0bdd606de463ead41&width=400&height=225)
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and Vusimuzi Madonsela, the country's ambassador to the Netherlands, confer during the session. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YNX7FGRXUEJRVYZ3DWUTWUMQEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=33d14eadc983e2985cd0f24d9011552a36f681698f51cc7a2b5ad633c779fe55&width=400&height=225)
Judges at the International Court of Justice. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HT4HHSFFRMEIDF37A5BUC46ZY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc3ee59da9ec1c6436b7d47b462f0e596a045de3723dc741a248fd8ce3009b5b&width=400&height=225)
Residents gather at the Dullah Omar Centre in Cape Town to watch the ruling in The Hague. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GLX35EBP7NPGVZE24EUHLST6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=c55f3ad9957206d8bfaa927be50dfce7e86f340bf997baab4540798a1e57943a&width=400&height=225)
British jurist Malcolm Shaw, centre, and Gilad Noam, left, Israel's Deputy Attorney General for International Affairs, attend the session. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67NJL2ACRVQHQHKNCUVHLSVWRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b60d48ee49f626ef5e8f99f9a3b75c02d8799d5161609300fe87b76e5069ddd4&width=400&height=225)
Israelis watch a live stream of the court session at a TV shop in Jerusalem. EPA
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Police officers in front of the Peace Palace. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/35QFSC2RSZJXMIBEYEY46MGBYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fcaeb0bc41dc7fbe0a18a1f3a9081f053892cb2e6fd8d4cae40188c97f618130&width=400&height=225)
Police carry a security fence near the Peace Palace. AP
West's support for ICJ rulings creates awkward position in backing Israel's Gaza campaign
UK has been a steadfast supporter of previous genocide cases brought before the International Court of Justice
![Thomas Harding](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F384edce7-d64f-494d-bcc0-406f934ad51d.png?smart=true&auth=8a909847700683429f8bc49fba9592513058d9a433fbdd0e6b812909d2e147c6&width=70&height=70)
Thomas Harding
26 January, 2024
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