The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah.
This came as the court ruled on an emergency request by South Africa for Israel to end its offensive on Rafah.
Reading out a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the body’s President, Nawaf Salam said that provisional measures ordered by the court in March did not fully address the situation in Gaza now, and conditions had been met for a new emergency order.
He declared that “Israel must immediately halt its military offensive” in Rafah.
In its ruling, the world court said that it was “not convinced” that the evacuation of Rafah and other measures by Israel are sufficient to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians.
The court ordered Israel to open the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian assistance.
It also ordered Israel to allow access to the Gaza Strip for investigators.
The ICJ told Israel that it must submit a report on measures taken within one month.
South Africa welcomed the ICJ’s order and urged UN member states to back it.
“I believe it’s a much stronger, in terms of wording, set of provisional measures, very clear call for a cessation,” South African Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor stated.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Palestinian presidential spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeina stated that it represents an international consensus to end the war on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas also welcomed the ICJ decision on Rafah.
However, it said it is not enough and urged an end to Israel’s offensive on all of Gaza.
“We call on the international community and the United Nations to pressure the occupation to immediately comply with this decision and to seriously and genuinely proceed in translating all UN resolutions that force the Zionist occupation army to stop the genocide it has been committing against our people for more than seven months.”
Hamas
Belgian Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib urged the immediate implementation of the decision.
She said on X, “The violence and human suffering in Gaza must stop. We call for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and negotiations for two states.”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch stressed that the ICJ rulings show how bad things are in Gaza.
“The International Court of Justice’s order underlines the gravity of the situation facing Palestinians in Gaza,” Balkees Jarrah from the US-based international rights group, stated.
He added, “This decision opens up the possibility for relief, but only of governments use their leverage to press Israel to urgently enforce the court’s measures.”
Israel Condemn ICJ Ruling
As expected, Israel is not so pleased with the world court’s ruling.
Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid condemned the ICJ for not making a connection between the cessation of fighting in Rafah and the return of the abductees and Israel’s right to defend itself in its ruling on Israel’s war in Gaza.
He called the judgement “a moral collapse and a moral disaster.”
He said, “It is Israel that was brutally attacked from Gaza and had to defend itself against a horrible terrorist organisation that murdered children, raped women and still fires rockets at innocent civilians.”
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich said that those who demand that Israel stop the war are “demanding that it should decide to cease to exist.”
“Israel will not agree to that,” he asserted.
Moreover, Israeli Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on X, “The order of the antisemitic court in The Hague should have only one answer – the occupation of Rafah, the increase of military pressure and the crushing of Hamas, until the complete victory in the war is achieved.”
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