THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The World Court ordered Israel on Friday to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, although it stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by South Africa.

South Africa brought the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) earlier this month, asking it to grant emergency measures to halt the fighting, which has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians.

It accused Israel of state-led genocide in its offensive, begun after Hamas militants stormed into Israel killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 240. Israel sought to have the case thrown out.

In Friday’s ruling, the judges said Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide, punish and must take steps to improve the humanitarian situation.

While the ICJ did not order a ceasefire, it said it would not throw out the genocide case, ruling that the Palestinians appeared to be a protected group under the 1948 Genocide Convention. It did not decide the merits of the genocide allegations.

Israel has called South Africa’s allegations false and “grossly distorted”, and said it makes the utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

The ICJ has handed down an interim order directing:

That Israel shall take all measures to prevent acts of genocide;

That Israel shall ensure the military does not commit acts of genocide;

That Israel shall take all measures to prevent and punish incitement to genocide;

That Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to allow basic services and humanitarian assistance to Gaza;

That Israel shall submit a report on all measures taken to give effect to the ICJ order within one month.

Riyadh Maliki, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said they welcomed “the significant order by the court.”

“The ICJ ruling is an important reminder that no state is above the law or beyond the reach of justice. It breaks Israel’s entrenched culture of criminality and impunity, which has characterized its decades-long occupation, dispossession, persecution, and apartheid in Palestine,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that Israel is fighting “a just war like no other”.

He added that Israel will continue to defend itself and its citizens while adhering to international law.

The South African government hailed what it called a “decisive victory” for the international rule of law.

Thanking the ICJ for its swift ruling, the government said it welcomed the provisional measures and said it sincerely hoped Israel would not act to frustrate the application of the court’s orders.

It further said the ruling marked a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people.