Canada opted to say as little as possible Friday about an International Court of Justice ruling that ordered Israel to prevent a genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

After hours of silence from the federal government, Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly eventually released a statement that did not directly respond to the ruling.

The court91裸聊视频檚 finding was not a final decision on the case, which Canada is following 91裸聊视频渧ery closely,91裸聊视频� Joly said.

South Africa brought the allegation that Israel is perpetrating genocide to the UN91裸聊视频檚 highest court a month ago and asked it to impose a ceasefire.

The overwhelming majority of judges instead ordered six provisional measures to limit casualties in the Gaza Strip and to ensure the preservation of evidence should the court find Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.

The judges ruled against Israel91裸聊视频檚 request to throw out the case altogether.

Neither Joly nor Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped to answer questions Friday as members of the Liberal caucus gathered on Parliament Hill.

The statement reiterated Canada91裸聊视频檚 position that the government supports the court91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渃ritical role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and its work in upholding the international rules-based order.91裸聊视频�

It added, as Trudeau has said before: 91裸聊视频淥ur support for the ICJ does not mean that we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa.91裸聊视频�

Earlier on Friday, Liberal MPs offered mixed opinions on how Canada should respond.

It is incumbent on Canada, a signatory to the international court, to 91裸聊视频渕ake sure that they convince Israel to follow what has been said91裸聊视频� in the ruling, said Toronto MP Salma Zahid.

91裸聊视频淭hey have to have some dialogue with them.91裸聊视频�

Her colleague Anthony Housefather said he didn91裸聊视频檛 want to 91裸聊视频渙verblow91裸聊视频� Friday91裸聊视频檚 decision since it was primarily about whether or not the court would continue to hear the case.

91裸聊视频淢y position has been that Israel is not committing genocide, that it91裸聊视频檚 baseless and it91裸聊视频檚 insulting, and I don91裸聊视频檛 think the case was helpful to bring,91裸聊视频� Housefather said.

Israel91裸聊视频檚 ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, said he did not hear from Canadian officials in the initial hours after the ruling.

He said it is important to be clear that the court has not made any judgment about whether a genocide has taken place.

91裸聊视频淟et it also be clear that Israel respects international law and is a law-abiding country, and this is what we91裸聊视频檝e been making sure that we do all along the way,91裸聊视频� Moed said after Friday91裸聊视频檚 Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.

The ruling did not speak to Israel91裸聊视频檚 right to self-defence but did say the court was 91裸聊视频済ravely concerned91裸聊视频� about hostages who remain in the grip of Hamas.

The death toll from the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 26,000, including militants. The Hamas-run Health Ministry also said Friday that more than 64,400 had been wounded since Oct. 7.

That was the day militants from the territory launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

The court concluded that Israel has not taken enough care to prevent its bombardment and restrictions on aid and other essentials from costing lives in Gaza.

It cited statements from senior officials that suggest a policy of collective punishment, including comments from Israel91裸聊视频檚 president on Oct. 12 that named an 91裸聊视频渆ntire nation91裸聊视频� as responsible for the Hamas attacks.

Even before Joly91裸聊视频檚 statement, Canadian officials had offered little of substance about the case.

Mona Abuamara, the Palestinian ambassador to Canada, urged Trudeau to break the silence.

91裸聊视频淲e call on Canada to end its regarding of Palestinians as an exception to the protection of the international order, and Israel as the exception to adhering to international law,91裸聊视频� she told an online news conference.

South Africa91裸聊视频檚 high commissioner in Ottawa, Rieaz Shaik, said that prior to Friday91裸聊视频檚 ruling, he discussed the case with Canadian officials who seemed to take his country91裸聊视频檚 arguments seriously.

He said the logical next step is for Canada to formally recognize a Palestinian state, in order to build on its commitment to a two-state solution.

Jewish and Muslim groups have been impatiently pushing for Canada to speak to its stance.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a statement that Trudeau and Joly 91裸聊视频渕ust speak out91裸聊视频� against what it called a 91裸聊视频渃lear ploy to politicize the ICJ as a platform to target Israel.91裸聊视频�

B91裸聊视频檔ai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy group, said it feared Friday91裸聊视频檚 judgment would 91裸聊视频渋ntensify91裸聊视频� anti-Israel sentiment and demonstrations in Canada.

91裸聊视频淓very democracy should stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel, no condition, no modification, no conditioning of their response,91裸聊视频� the group91裸聊视频檚 Quebec regional director Henry Topas said in an interview Friday.

91裸聊视频淚t has to be clear and unequivocal that Israel is fighting a barbaric entity, Hamas, and they must be permitted and encouraged and supported in finishing the job.91裸聊视频�

The National Council of Canadian Muslims, for its part, called on the Liberals to voice support for the ruling and call for a ceasefire to prevent more deaths.

91裸聊视频淭he fact that this case is proceeding forward 91裸聊视频� that the evidence has been met to move forward on a genocide case 91裸聊视频� should prompt deep introspection for our political parties here in Canada,91裸聊视频� the group said in a statement.

A spokesman for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre declined to comment on the court91裸聊视频檚 ruling, pointing to earlier comments Poilievre made on South Africa91裸聊视频檚 case. He previously criticized it as 91裸聊视频渟hameless91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渄ishonest.91裸聊视频�

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced Friday it has suspended aid to the UN agency tasked with supporting Palestinians, due to allegations that some staff at the body known as UNRWA participated in the brutal Hamas attack on Israel last October.

Canada announced plans Friday to follow suit by temporarily pausing new funding to UNRWA while the organization investigates the claims.

International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said Canada will not reduce aid to Gaza, and will work with other partners to provide life-saving assistance to civilians in the territory.

91裸聊视频� With files from Mia Rabson and Stephanie Taylor in Ottawa and The Associated Press.

Dylan Robertson and Laura Osman, The Canadian Press

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