In a unanimous ruling, the World Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take immediate and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to the Palestinian population in Gaza. The order comes as worsening conditions and the spread of famine and starvation threaten the lives of the enclave's inhabitants.

The ruling follows a case brought forward by South Africa, which accuses Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, recognized the urgent need for intervention to address the dire situation in the region.

As Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters engage in close combat near Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital, the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for attacking Israeli soldiers and tanks using rockets and mortar fire. The ongoing clashes have further exacerbated the already dire conditions faced by the Palestinian population.

The judges at the World Court expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, emphasizing that famine is now setting in rather than being just a risk. The urgent need for intervention is crucial to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the civilian population.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has not yet provided any immediate comment on the court's ruling. However, Israel has previously outlined efforts to expand humanitarian access to Gaza through overland routes, airdrops, and maritime means.

The Israeli military has stated that it continues to operate around the Al Shifa Hospital complex, having stormed it over a week ago. The military claims to have targeted Hamas terrorists who allegedly use civilian buildings for cover, while the Palestinian health ministry states that patients and wounded individuals are trapped in the administration building of the hospital, lacking essential care due to shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

Gaza's largest hospital, Al Shifa, which was already struggling to provide adequate healthcare services before the conflict, has been significantly impacted by the recent fighting. The hospital had also been acting as a temporary shelter for displaced civilians.

Amidst conflicting narratives, Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of the Gaza Hamas-run government media office, rejected Israel's claims and accused them of carrying out "field killings and executions against hundreds of civilians." According to him, there are only civilians within the hospital compound.

Footage circulating on social media shows the surgery unit of Al Shifa Hospital in flames, with nearby apartments destroyed or on fire. The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have claimed joint responsibility for launching mortar shells towards Israeli soldiers near the hospital. Israel's military, on the other hand, asserts that Hamas terrorists fired at their troops from inside and outside the hospital's emergency room building.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the death toll climbing rapidly. The territory's health ministry reports that since October 7, at least 32,552 Palestinians have been killed, and 74,980 others have been wounded. Many are believed to be buried under rubble, and over 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, facing the risk of famine.

This latest ruling from the World Court serves as a plea to Israel to take immediate action to ensure basic food supplies and halt the spreading famine in Gaza. With tensions still high and the conflict ongoing, it remains to be seen how the situation will progress and whether the necessary measures will be implemented to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population.