The International Court of Justice has delivered its ruling on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel over its war on the Gaza Strip.

The UN’s top court has ruled that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering an immediate halt to operations.

However, BBC News says a verdict on South Africa’s allegation of genocide is not expected for years.

Israel strongly denies the accusation, calling it “baseless”.

Following today’s proceedings, Palestinian minister of foreign affairs Riyadh al-Maliki, issued a statement welcoming the order: “The ICJ ruling is an important reminder that no state is above the law or beyond the reach of justice. It breaks Israel’s entrenched culture of criminality and impunity, which has characterized its decades-long occupation, dispossession, persecution, and apartheid in Palestine.”

He also thanked South Africa for bringing the case before the ICJ: “The Palestinian people and leadership will be forever grateful to the people and government of South Africa for taking this bold step of active solidarity. We are also grateful to the millions of people who have not stopped taking to the streets around the world to protest the genocide and champion Palestinian rights to life and freedom. Palestine will continue to work with allies to ensure an end to the genocide, accountability for the atrocious crimes, and the protection of our collective rights as peoples of the world to equal human rights, justice, and freedom. This is a fight for humanity the world cannot afford to lose.”