The International Court of Justice orders Israel to cease its attack on Rafah
The International Court of Justice orders Israel to cease its attack on Rafah
The United Nations International Court of Justice, located in The Hague, Netherlands, has just made a ruling on South Africa's request to stop Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, stating that the humanitarian situation in Rafah in southern Gaza is a "disaster" and that Israel's claim that "evacuation and other measures can alleviate the suffering of Palestinians" is not convincing enough. The International Court of Justice has issued a "temporary measure" to demand that Israel cease military operations in Rafah.
South Africa sued Israel for "genocide" in the Gaza Strip in December last year before the International Court of Justice. The International Court of Justice issued interim measures in January and March this year, demanding that Israel comply with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip; Take all necessary measures to ensure the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip - however, this "temporary measure" does not explicitly demand a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
On May 9th, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the Israeli military's expansion of military operations in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. On May 10th, the South African government urged the International Court of Justice to urgently issue "temporary measures", demanding that Israel immediately cease its military operations in Rafah and withdraw its troops, take "all effective measures" to allow humanitarian aid workers, journalists, and investigators to enter the Gaza Strip without obstruction, and also demanded that Israel inform them of the measures it has taken.
The International Court of Justice began holding hearings on this matter on May 16th. The South African government accused Israel of "reaching a heinous new stage" of "genocide" in the Gaza Strip during a hearing that day, urging the International Court of Justice to urgently issue "temporary measures" to stop Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli representative requested the International Court of Justice to reject the South African government's request during a hearing on May 17th.
The International Court of Justice is the main judicial organ of the United Nations, dedicated to resolving disputes between nations. Its judgments and "provisional measures" are binding and non appealable. Although the International Court of Justice lacks enforcement mechanisms, its laws targeting a country may affect its international reputation and set judicial precedents.
