Why it matters: It's the court's first order about the war in Gaza, where more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials.

• The order from the court, which began discussing the matter in January, significantly increases international pressure on Israel to stop the latest fighting in Gaza that began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage.
• The decision is likely to prompt another effort to pass a resolution at the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. The Biden administration will be pressed not to veto a new resolution. 
• In late March, the ICJ rejected South Africa's request to issue an order for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but determined that "the catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated further" since its last order in late January.
  • As such it ordered Israel, in conformity with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, "to take all necessary and effective measures" to cooperate with the UN in facilitating "urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance."