Israel-Gaza live updates: 'Constructive meeting' but 'gaps' remain: Israeli PM

The United Nations' top court on Friday demanded that Israel try to contain death and damage in its military offensive in the neighboring Gaza Strip but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire.

With a panel of 17 judges in The Hague, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take "all measures within its power" to prevent committing genocide against Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents amid the ongoing war with Hamas, the militant group that rules the tiny, coastal territory.

Friday's ruling is part of a preliminary decision in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza -- charges which Israel vehemently denies. South Africa had asked the court to order Israel to halt its military operation in the war-torn enclave while the case is being reviewed.

A State Department official said [in a statement] the ruling is "consistent with our view that Israel has the right to take action to ensure" the attacks of Oct. 7 aren't repeated. The official added that the U.S. has "consistently made clear that Israel must take all take all possible steps to minimize civilian harm, increase the flow of humanitarian assistance, and address dehumanizing rhetoric."

"We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded and note the court did not make a finding about genocide or call for a cease-fire in its ruling and that it called for the unconditional, immediate release of all hostages being held by Hamas,” the State Department official said. "We will continue to monitor this proceeding as it moves forward."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the ruling a "victory for international law, for human rights, and above all, for justice."

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said in response to the ruling that Israel does not need to be "lectured on morality in order to distinguish between terrorists and the civilian population in Gaza." Former Israeli Defense Minister and current Knesset cabinet member Benny Gantz added that "those who should stand trial are those who murdered and kidnapped children, women and the elderly."

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Morgan Winsor

The State Department is temporarily pausing new funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East while reviewing allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

Guterres "is horrified by this news" and asked the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, to "investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution," the secretary-general’s spokesperson said.

Lazzarini said he’s fired several staff members after Israel provided the agency "with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees" in the Oct. 7 attacks.

An investigation is underway, he said, warning that "any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution."

The United Nations' top court decided Friday not to throw out South Africa's case accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague is also set to announce its decision on "provisional measures," which could include ordering Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza.

"The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering," ICJ president Joan Donoghue told the packed courtroom.

A final ruling on the genocide allegations, which Israel vehemently denies, is expected to take years.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Morgan Winsor

The United Nations' top court is set on Friday to deliver its first interim ruling in the genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague will not yet decide whether Israel has committed genocide -- a ruling that is expected to take years -- but instead will announce its decision on "provisional measures," which could include ordering Israel to halt its military operations in the neighboring Gaza Strip. The bar for ordering such measures is much lower than the final genocide ruling. For Friday, the court only has to decide if there is a "plausible" risk Israel is committing genocide against Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinian residents amid the war with Hamas, the militant group that rules the enclave. The panel of judges could also reject South Africa's case and shut down the trial -- a move that many legal experts say is unlikely.

Israel has vehemently denied the genocide allegations and can ignore any rulings from the ICJ , as it's done in the past. But the court's decisions would apply more pressure to Israel and its allies, including the United. States. The country has vehemently denied the genocide allegations.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Morgan Winsor