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

The South African government accused Israel of state-led genocide in its offensive, which began after Hamas militants stormed into Israel killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 240 people on October 7, Israel sought to have the case thrown out.

The department of international relations and co-operation in South Africa said the court determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza were plausibly genocidal and indicated provisional measures that Israel must take on that basis.

"Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people, for the implementation of the international rule of law, the decision is a momentous one, South Africa thanks the court for its swift ruling,” the department said.

The UN Security Council will now be formally notified of the court’s order.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has also welcomed the ICJ’s swift pronouncement on provisional relief measures, alluding that it mourns the loss of the innocent lives that has been brought about by this terrible conflict.

The DA remains resolutely committed to a viable and sustainable two-state solution based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and our vision is for a sovereign Palestine, co-existing in peace next to a secure Israel,"  the DA said in a statement.