THE HAGUE. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to immediately cease its military assault on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. This decision comes in response to South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide.
Reading the ruling, ICJ President Nawaf Salam stated that the situation in Gaza had worsened since the court previously directed Israel to improve conditions. He affirmed that conditions warranted a new emergency order. “The state of Israel shall (…) 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 declared.
The court’s order also mandates Israel to open the Rafah crossing with Egypt to facilitate humanitarian aid and to grant access to investigators. Israel must report back on its compliance within one month.
The ruling was adopted by a 13-2 vote, with dissent from judges representing Uganda and Israel. This decision follows a request from South Africa made just a week earlier, as part of their broader accusation of genocide against Israel.
While the ICJ is the highest U.N. body for resolving disputes between states and its rulings are binding, they have been ignored in the past due to the court’s lack of enforcement powers.
Outside the court, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered, waving flags and playing music advocating for a free Palestine.
Israel has dismissed the genocide accusations as unfounded, asserting that its military operations in Gaza are acts of self-defense aimed at Hamas militants. An Israeli government spokesperson reiterated before the ruling, “No power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.”
Israel launched its offensive on Rafah earlier this month, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The city, situated on Gaza’s southern border, is a crucial entry point for aid. International organizations have warned that the Israeli operation has cut off the enclave, raising the risk of famine.
South Africa’s legal team argued for emergency measures to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people. This decision against Israel may increase diplomatic pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
In a related development, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced applications for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders, accusing them of crimes including extermination and deliberately attacking civilians. Israel has strongly denied these charges and called on its allies to reject the court’s actions.
South Africa’s broader case at the ICJ accuses Israel of orchestrating a state-led genocide against Palestinians. The court has not yet ruled on this substantive accusation, which may take years to resolve, but has previously rejected Israel’s attempts to dismiss the case.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
