ICJ orders Israel to “immediately halt” Rafah military offensive
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) — which managed a case against Israel for genocidal acts brought on by South Africa — ordered Israel on May 24th to cease all military operations in Rafah, the New Arab and agencies reported.
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,” the ICJ said. It also demanded that Israel keep the recently-seized Rafah border crossing in operation to allow for the “unhindered” flow of humanitarian aid into the region.
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Since South Africa took Israel to court in January, pressure has increased for the allowance of a ceasefire. Since Israel’s overnight assault on Rafah on May 7th, any momentum in peace talks has again come to a stop. The ICJ previously declared Israel guilty of genocidal acts but made no legal moves to demand a ceasefire to its war on Gaza.
While ICJ rulings are legally binding, the Court has no concrete means to enforce them. Israel argued before the court that a complete halt of military action in Rafah would consequently give free rein to Hamas and prevent the group’s return of hostages.
The New Arab and agencies
