The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to cease its military activities in Rafah, located in southern Gaza.
The court’s president, Nawaf Salam, stated that provisional measures previously enacted in March were insufficient under the current circumstances. This led to a new emergency order demanding an immediate stop to Israel’s actions in Rafah.
This directive followed a South African initiative, which, only a week prior, requested the ICJ to mandate Israel to end its offensive. This request was part of a broader accusation against Israel of committing genocide, a charge Israel vehemently denies. Israel defends its operations in Gaza as self-defence measures against Hamas militants who launched attacks on October 7.
An Israeli government spokesperson emphasized on the eve of the ICJ’s decision that Israel’s priority remains the protection of its citizens and the pursuit of Hamas in Gaza.
This conflict has escalated significantly, with Israel initiating an offensive earlier this month against Rafah, prompting massive displacement. Rafah, previously a sanctuary for approximately half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, now sees hundreds of thousands fleeing. According to reports from Gaza’s health ministry, the ongoing operations have resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian casualties.
The current conflict is concentrated in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, which has not only displaced a large number of people but also severed crucial aid routes into the region, raising international concerns about potential widespread casualties and famine.
