Hamas recently declared its willingness to honor a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issues a ruling advocating for it, under the condition that Israel reciprocates. The group conveyed this commitment in a statement released on Thursday.
In addition, Hamas expressed its intent to release Israeli prisoners currently in its custody in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. Emphasizing the need for humanitarian assistance, Hamas urged Israel to end the 18-year-long siege on Gaza and allow the entry of essential aid for relief and reconstruction, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The ICJ is poised to deliver a verdict on South Africa's case against Israel on Friday in The Hague. The court will also rule on South Africa's request for urgent intervention to halt Israel's military operations in Gaza.
On December 29, 2023, South Africa submitted an application to the ICJ, alleging that Israel violated its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide concerning Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
(With Agency Inputs)
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