Though not making front-page headlines this side of the globe, the Republic of South Africa has taken the State of Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a claim of genocide.

South Africa charges that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has asked the ICJ to intervene in a mission to halt Israeli military action in Gaza.

Situated in The Hague, The Netherlands, the ICJ is the United Nations’ highest human rights arbiter.

If the judges are convinced that the Israeli military’s attacks on Gaza have been excessive, they could quickly call for a halt in Israel’s assault.

But will Israel adhere?

Whatever the outcome, we, nestled in the warm waters of the Caribbean, must take no posture as to believe we are immune to the effects of the results of the ICJ’s decision, whichever way the pendulum of justice swings.

Unequivocally, we have our localised and regional challenges, but in these times of interdependence and international relations, we must remain cognisant that a stone dropped in the great pond called the Mediterranean Sea will have ripple effect for our ability to maintain oil and energy supplies, keep our port churning, as well as our effort to feed ourselves.

And so, while we pursue solutions to the other challenges that abound — among them unrest in Haiti and growing hostilities between Guyana and Venezuela — let us keep one ear and one eye on the happenings in The Hague.

The process promises to be lengthy, and many more civilians will face death by strife or ammunition before a resolution is arrived at, but we must hold fast to the principles of international law and relations. Being members of a civilised world demands it.

Still, we place our hopes in the decision of the ICJ knowing that it can only put public pressure on the identified aggressor as it has no brute force to bring to bear on the situation.

This knowledge does not confound us; instead, it serves as the harbinger of hope that in institutions such as the ICJ the world can be made a better place.

We, in this space, resist the urge to fight fire with fire as down the years we have seen enough evidence that the good suffer more when this route is taken. But the Middle East can be made no more a place of peace with the raising of more firepower.

And though this is the position taken in this matter, those who have other opinions should hold off on the accusations of being a Pollyanna or merely singing kumbaya while more innocent lives are snuffed out.

This position serves as a call to our leaders to look on at the growing number of conflicts across the globe and, rather than play politics with voting and abstentions at the United Nations, take proactive steps here to shore up and maintain oil and energy supplies, foster relationships to keep our port churning, and make the investment to ensure our food security.

The Government of Jamaica has a responsibility, first and foremost, to its people. As such, the leisure of pretending that what happens in The Hague is all a theatre of political players elsewhere is not ours. We must, while we wait, take action.

There is enough time and enough space for the intentional planning and management of the country’s welfare. International diplomacy being allowed to take its course has never meant do nothing — our forebears showed us that in our stance against apartheid.

And so, as we await the waving of the white flag of strength, our leaders must fortify this land we love.