The Straight Story on the Genocide Ruling at The Hague

The International Court of Justice is concerned about Israel's actions - but not enough to order a halt to the fighting in Gaza

There will be a lot of spin about Friday’s ruling at the International Court of Justice on South Africa’s charge that Israel is guilty of genocide in its effort to crush Hamas in Gaza. I’d like to offer a straight take on what actually happened – and what did not.

Israel’s critics will make much hay of the court’s finding that there is a “plausible” case that provisional measures are needed to avoid “irreparable prejudice” to Palestinians’ rights. And yes, for sure, Israel got rapped on the knuckles.

But the main news, for anyone still exercising news judgment,  is that the court did not rule that Israel must end its war effort. Read on.