Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have delivered an interim ruling in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza.

ICJ president Judge Joan Donoghue added Israel must also take measures to improve the humanitarian situation, but the court stopped short of ordering an immediate halt to operations.

Israel must report to the court within a month on what it’s doing to uphold the order.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would “continue to defend ourselves and our citizens while adhering to international law”.

Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said the judges had ruled “in favour of humanity and international law”.