KUALA LUMPUR – The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the city of Rafah in Gaza, citing immense risk to the Palestinians.
The ruling by the 15-judge panel is legally binding even though there is no way for the world court to enforce these orders.
ICJ president Nawaf Salam said in the ruling that provisional measures given by the court in March failed to address the siege in Gaza, hence the need for a new emergency order.
Israel must “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” Salam was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
It was also reported that the humanitarian situation in Rafah was described as “disastrous” and “exceptionally dire”.
Israel is also ordered to return to the ICJ in one month to report its progress in complying with the court orders.
The ruling came after South Africa asked the ICJ to stop Israel’s offensive in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, arguing that this is necessary to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.
ICJ decisions have been ignored in the past. Although the top UN legal body has no way to enforce its rulings, they carry significant international weight.
The court has previously rejected Israel’s demand to throw out the case and ordered it to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians, while stopping short of ordering a halt to Israeli military operations.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 35,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with at least 10,000 more missing, Gaza’s Health Ministry has said. – May 24, 2024