“South Africa stood up for human rights and the rule of law when the UK, US, and Israel did not,” says Jeremy Hawthorn of Liverpool Friends of Palestine. “We welcome the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that ‘Israel must take all measures to prevent any acts that could be considered genocidal’”.

On Friday 26 January the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent ‘killing members of a group, causing bodily harm, inflicting conditions designed to bring about the destruction of a group, preventing births’.

The Court highlighted tens of thousands of deaths, injuries and the destruction of homes, schools, medical facilities, and massive displacement. Many Palestinians lack basic foodstuffs, potable water, electricity, essential medicines or heating. Fifteen per cent of women giving birth in Gaza are likely to experience complications, and rising maternal and newborn death rates are expected.

We say ongoing violations of international law in Gaza will not end without a comprehensive, permanent ceasefire. We agree with South Africa that all States must cease funding and facilitating Israel's military actions, to avoid aiding and abetting genocide.

We demand that Liverpool MPs, the Opposition Front Bench and the Government endorse the ICJ ruling and South Africa’s action in bringing it forward.

Across Merseyside, local government pension funds invest millions in arms firms supplying Israel with weapons used on Gaza. Barclays is the largest high street bank funding these firms. Arms companies act as partners at the University of Liverpool.

We call on trade unionists, students, and Barclay’s customers to break these links and join our demonstration today: assemble 2pm Hope St / Mount Pleasant.

Notes to Editors

1. The full text of the provisional measures adopted by the International Court of Justice in their ruling on Friday 26 January is available at https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/192-20240126-sum-01-00-en.pdf

2. Evidence on conditions in Gaza as considered by the ICJ is on page 6 of the document in note 1.

3. The South African press release responding to the ICJ ruling is at https://dirco.gov.za/statement-by-south-africa-welcoming-the-provisional-measures-ordered-by-the-international-court-of-justice-against-israel/

4. Key investments of the Merseyside Pension Fund in arms companies supplying Israel with weapons used on Gaza and Saudi Arabia with weapons used on Yemen, along with UK and US nuclear weapons, are linked from http://labournet.net/other/2312/pensions1.html

5. Palestine Solidarity Campaign material on Barclays Bank involvement in arming Israel is at https://palestinecampaign.org/campaigns/stop-arming-israel-3/