International Court of Justice Orders Israel to Halt Operations in Rafah
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has issued a decisive ruling ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. This ruling comes in response to a request from South Africa under the Genocide Convention. The ICJ's Chief Justice Nawaf Salam stated, "Israel must immediately stop its military offensive and any other actions in the Rafah governorate that could inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza living conditions that could lead to their physical destruction, entirely or in part."
In addition to halting military activities, the ICJ directed Israel to open the Rafah border crossing to facilitate humanitarian aid. Furthermore, Israel must allow unhindered access to the Gaza Strip for investigators to preserve evidence of the situation on the ground. Israel has also been instructed to submit a comprehensive report on the measures taken within a month.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an urgent consultation with key ministers, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and Attorney General Gali Beharav-Miara, following the ICJ's decision. Meanwhile, the Court has also urged the "immediate and unconditional release" of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Despite this ruling, an Israeli government spokesperson stated that Israel remains resolute in its military objectives. "No power in the world will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and acting against Hamas in Gaza," said Avi Hyman, emphasizing Israel's commitment to destroying Hamas and restoring peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians.
South Africa and Hamas have welcomed the ICJ's ruling, with South Africa underscoring the "stronger" order against Israel. Hamas, however, expressed that the ruling was insufficient and called for an end to the offensive across the entire Gaza Strip. In a statement on Telegram, Hamas urged the international community and the UN to exert pressure on Israel to comply with the ICJ's resolution and enforce other United Nations mandates requiring the cessation of the "genocidal war."
The UN judges clarified that while their decisions are binding, they lack the enforcement power to compel states to comply. Only a UN Security Council resolution could enforce such measures, but the likelihood of the United States waiving its veto power on resolutions concerning Israel remains a significant challenge. As the international community watches, the ICJ's ruling adds to the increasing global pressure on Israel for a truce after more than seven months of conflict.
- International newspapers such as The New York Times and The Guardian have detailed the developments, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in Rafah and broader Gaza.
- According to reports, Israeli analysts believe Prime Minister Netanyahu is leveraging external criticism to consolidate domestic support. Meanwhile, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has publicly criticized Netanyahu's government, urging key cabinet members to resign to end the ongoing violence.
- The Guardian has also reported on the conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli facilities, describing severe physical and psychological abuses. These details further contribute to the narrative of the human toll of the ongoing conflict.
- Political analysts speculate that the United States is considering a prominent role in post-war Gaza, with plans to appoint a civilian advisor to liaise with a mostly Palestinian force, possibly pointing to future international involvement in the region.
