Top UN court stops short of ordering ceasefire in Gaza and demands Israel contain deaths

An Israeli tank and other military vehicles guard a position as Palestinians flee Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Jan 26, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. – AFP

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP): The United Nations' top court stopped short on Friday (Jan 26) of ordering a ceasefire in Gaza in a case accusing Israel of genocide in the tiny coastal enclave, but demanded that Israel try to limit deaths and damage caused by its military offensive there.

South Africa brought the case, which goes to the core of one of the world's most intractable conflicts, and had asked the court to order Israel to halt its operation.