Who leads the ICJ? What is ICJ ruling?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between nations. It also gives advisory opinions on international legal issues to certain UN organs and agencies. The ICJ is located in The Hague, Netherlands, and has its seat in the Peace Palace.

The ICJ is composed of 15 judges who are elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms. No more than one judge of each nationality may be represented on the court at the same time, and judges collectively must reflect the principal civilizations and legal systems of the world.

The current president of the ICJ is Judge Joan E. Donoghue from the United States, who was elected on 8 February 2021. The ICJ has jurisdiction over cases that are submitted to it by states that have consented to its jurisdiction, either by a special agreement, by a treaty clause, or by a declaration under Article 36 of the ICJ Statute.

The ICJ can also issue advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs or specialized agencies, such as the General Assembly, the Security Council, or the World Health Organization.

One of the recent cases before the ICJ is the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), which was instituted by South Africa on 29 December 2023.

South Africa alleges that Israel has violated its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and requests the ICJ to indicate provisional measures to prevent further harm. The public hearings on this case were held on 11 and 12 January 2024, and the ICJ will now begin its deliberation.

Another recent case before the ICJ is the advisory proceedings on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, which was requested by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2022. The General Assembly asked the ICJ to give an opinion on two questions: (1) What are the obligations of States under international law to prevent and mitigate climate change? (2) What are the legal consequences for States that fail to comply with these obligations?

The ICJ has authorized two groups of states, namely the Pacific Islands Forum and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), to participate in these proceedings. The time-limits for written statements and comments are set for 22 March 2024 and 24 June 2024, respectively.