The ICJ verdict could put much-needed pressure on the US to rein in Israel | Mohamad Bazzi

Biden's unqualified support for Israel has exposed the US to potential complicity in war crimes and global condemnation

The international court of justice on Friday ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide by its troops in Gaza, and to allow more aid into the besieged territory. The court, which is the UN's highest judicial body, stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire. But it was a victory for the Palestinians, and for the global south in general, in that Israel is being held accountable for its military actions for the first time, and by one of the world's most important courts.

By allowing the case brought by South Africa to go forward and calling on Israel to comply with the genocide convention - and to report back to the court within a month - the ruling raises the stakes on Israel's western backers to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu's government to rein in its devastating invasion and bombardment of Gaza. The ruling is embarrassing to Joe Biden and his top aides, especially the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who described South Africa's case as meritless" a few weeks ago.