The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has described as commendable the interim judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa concerning the killings and destruction in Gaza.
The Council noted that the decision of the global court has put all nations, whose actions are obvious endorsements of the culture of impunity on the part of the Israeli government against Palestinians on notice that they too will become culpable for any genocidal acts against Palestinians by Israel.
It was reported last Friday, January 26, 2024, that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide.
The judgment read by the ICJ president, Joan Donoghue, ordered Israel to ensure that its forces do not commit genocide.
It also ordered Israel to ensure the preservation of evidence of alleged genocide.
She read as part of the judgment, “By 15 votes to 2, the state of Israel shall in accordance with its obligations on its convention on the prevention of the crime of genocide, in relation to the Palestinians in Gaza, take all measures within its power to prevent the Commission of all acts within the scope of Article Two of the Convention. In particular,
A. Killing groups of members of the Group
B. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
C. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, and indeed imposing measures and. To prevent bursts within the group.”
Reacting to the judgement in a statement issued on Thursday, the NSCIA said that it could not hold back its elation over the judgement.
In the statement signed by its Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, the council said that whereas the Court did not order an immediate stoppage to the “cruelty the Palestinians have been subjected to for over a hundred days now, with the powerful nations of the world not just being indifferent, but playing participatory roles in the promotion of the fiendish acts against the defenseless civilians of Palestine in Gaza, as they have always done for over half a century,’ the Court has demonstrated readiness to address any issues of genocide that may be proven against Israel.
“It has ordered that Israel does nothing genocidal against the Palestinians. It has obligated Israel to, within one month, show proof that she is in compliance with the decision of the Court.”
“The Council salutes the uncommon intrepidity demonstrated by the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa, who picked up the broken threads, in a world where feelings for the suffering of Palestinians had been numbed, to weave a fabric of hope for the mortified and helpless women, children and men of Palestine.”
The Council, however, expressed hope that the Court would find the final courage to ask for a total stoppage to the killings and destruction, which it said are ostensibly intended to erase Palestinians from the earth.
“The court must deny this fire the needed air to continue to burn.”
“The Council calls on the powerful nations of the world (i.e., USA, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Turkey and Canada) to do what is morally and legally right, by not just stopping the killings, but by guaranteeing the Palestinians’ right to live in dignity.
“The walls of hubris, domination, and oppression must be pulled down for all to live in dignity and peace.
“Meanwhile, the Council hereby implores the neighbouring Arab, Muslim and other countries that are honestly, truly and sincerely committed to and stand for freedom, justice and human rights to take advantage of this historic order by the ICJ to swiftly act and save millions of Palestinians who are dying of hunger and starvation.
“We should all rush to send food, water, medicine and all other essential provisions to save the lives of children, women and all innocent civilians that are being suffocated to death by the inhuman blockades of the occupying forces.
“May Allah quicken the liberation of the oppressed Palestinians. May He hasten His succour to the living among them and shower His unlimited compassion, mercy and forgiveness upon their dead.”