The judges of the highest court of the United Nations ordered this Friday Israel to stop its military assault on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. In reading the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)the president of the organization, Nawaf Salamsaid the interim measures ordered by the court in March “did not fully address the current situation” in the besieged Palestinian enclave, and that the conditions for a new emergency order”.
“Israel must immediately stop its military offensive in Rafah“said Salam. Thus, the court supported a South African petition to order Israel to stop its offensive in the city located in the Gaza Strip, a week after Pretoria requested the measure in a case in which Israel is accused of genocide.
The decision of the International Court of Justice
In its ruling, the ICJ stated that “I wasn’t convinced“that Israel’s evacuation measures were sufficient to protect Palestinian civilians.”The State of Israel (…) will immediately stop its military offensive and any other action in the Rafah governoratewhich may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza living conditions that could lead to its total or partial physical destruction,” said ICJ President Nawaf Salam.
Furthermore, the high court considered that currently there is appropriate context to take these measures against Israel given that the situation in Gaza is “disastrous“. The ICJ is the highest United Nations body to resolve disputes between states. Its rulings are final and binding, but have been ignored in the past since the court does not has enforcement powers.
The order was adopted by a panel of 15 judges from around the world. The vote on the ruling was finally 13 to 2with the only opposition from judges from Uganda and Israel itself.
Among other requests from the International Court of Justice to the Government of Benjamin Netanyahuthey find the urgency to open the Rafah border crossing for the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, access for researchers to the Palestinian enclave and the presentation of a report in it period of one month that records compliance with the requirements.
In previous rulings, the court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and allow aid into Gaza. However, this is the first time he has ordered the cessation of Israeli military operations.
Israel’s reaction
In the past, Israel has already rejected – repeatedly – accusations of genocideclaiming in court that its operations in Gaza are in self-defense and are directed against Hamas militants who They attacked Israel on October 7. On the eve of the ICJ decision, an Israeli government spokesperson stated that “no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and pursuing Hamas in Gaza“.
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Reuters
Israel launched its assault on the southern city of Rafah this month, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee a city that had become a refuge for about half of the Palestinians. 2.3 million inhabitants of the population. The city, located on the southern edge of Gaza, was also the main entry route for aid, and international organizations say the Israeli operation isolated the region and increased the risk of famine.
He Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichalso quickly came out to comment on the decision: “Those who demand that Israel stop the war are demanding that it decide to cease to exist and Israel will not accept that”said the Israeli official.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Palestinian National Authority Nabil Abu Rudeineh celebrated the ruling. According to the Palestinian representative, the ruling draws a line of “international consensus to put end to Israel’s war in Gaza“.
Israel launched its air and ground war against Gaza more than 10 monthsafter Hamas-led soldiers stormed communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 250, according to Israeli counts on October 7. Since then, more than 35,000 Palestinians died according to Gaza Ministry of Health.
Source: Ambito
