The top UN court has ordered Israel to halt its operation in Rafah.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ principal judicial body, has issued a significant directive, demanding that Israel “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.” This ruling follows an application by South Africa last week, which accused Israel of intensifying actions that it describes as genocide.
Presiding Judge Nawaf Salam highlighted the worsening situation in Gaza since the court previously ordered Israel to implement measures for improvement. Despite Israel’s strong denial of the genocide allegations and its indication that it would ignore the order, the ICJ’s decision was clear. Judge Salam stated that Israel must “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate” to prevent “the physical destruction” of the Palestinian population, referencing the international legal definition of genocide.
Furthermore, Israel is required to permit unrestricted access to Gaza for any UN body investigating genocide claims and to ensure the “unhindered provision at scale” of basic services and humanitarian aid. The court described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “disastrous.”
In response, Israel dismissed the ruling, asserting that its operations in Gaza comply with international law. National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and the foreign ministry issued a joint statement denying any intention to create living conditions that could lead to the destruction of the Palestinian population in Rafah. War cabinet minister Benny Gantz affirmed that Israel would persist with its offensive operations “wherever and whenever necessary – including in Rafah.”
Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the ruling, urging Israel to comply. He emphasized that ICJ resolutions are mandatory and binding on all parties, including Israel.
Following the ICJ’s decision, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s top diplomat, expressed concerns about reconciling the EU’s commitment to the rule of law with its support for Israel, acknowledging the potential difficulty in maintaining both positions simultaneously.
