The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel must halt its military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza.
- South Africa requested the ICJ to issue this emergency measure, arguing that Israel’s actions in Rafah amount to a “genocidal” operation and threaten the survival of the Palestinian people.
- This request is part of a larger case South Africa has brought before the court concerning Israel’s actions in Gaza.
- Israel has defended the Rafah offensive as crucial for defeating Hamas following the October 7 attacks and has dismissed South Africa’s case as “wholly unfounded.”
- The ICJ, the top UN court, can issue legally binding rulings in disputes between countries but has limited means of enforcing its orders.
The Court’s Orders
The ICJ has issued several directives for Israel, including:
- Halting military operations in Rafah.
- Opening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow large-scale humanitarian aid entry.
- Ensuring access to Gaza for investigators and fact-finding missions.
- Reporting to the court within a month on the progress of implementing these measures.