On Thursday, the World Court issued a ruling ordering Israel to cease causing famine in Gaza by ensuring that basic food supplies reach the Palestinians in need. The International Court of Justice unanimously demanded that Israel take all necessary and effective measures to provide the needed supplies to the war-torn enclave. According to the judges, Palestinians in Gaza are not just at risk of famine but are already experiencing famine.

The court ordered Israel to increase the capacity and number of land crossing points to facilitate the inflow of essential supplies and keep them open for as long as necessary. Israel was given a month to submit a report detailing its compliance with the ruling. The measures were requested by South Africa as part of a case accusing Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza. A senior Hamas official welcomed the ruling but believed it should have gone further by demanding a ceasefire to halt the suffering of the people in Gaza.

The United Nations Security Council had recently voted for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, with the United States abstaining from the vote. Israel has stated it is working to expand humanitarian access to Gaza through various means, but aid agencies argue that these efforts are insufficient. The number of trucks blocked at the border has been described as a moral outrage by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. As of now, there has been no comment from Israel’s foreign ministry regarding the World Court’s ruling.