International Justice orders Israel to stop its attack on Rafah
On Friday, the International Court of Justice issued an order to Israel to stop its attack on the Palestinian city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, as part of a broader case accusing Israel of committing genocide.
International Justice also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid, saying: “It must submit a report on the measures taken within a month.”
The court explained that, “to preserve evidence, Israel must take the necessary measures to ensure unhindered access of investigators to Gaza.”
It considered that “the conditions are met to take new emergency measures in the case of accusing Israel of genocide” in the Gaza Strip.
Before pronouncing the ruling, Lebanese Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice, said, “The living conditions of the people of Gaza are deteriorating and the humanitarian situation has become catastrophic,” noting that “the humanitarian situation in Rafah has deteriorated further since the court’s last order.”
Salam added: “About 800,000 people have been displaced from Rafah since the start of the ground attack on May 7,” noting that “the court considers the military attack in Rafah a dangerous development that increases the suffering of the population.”
The President of the International Court of Justice explained: “Israel must refrain from any actions that pose a danger to the Palestinians,” highlighting that “the temporary measures taken do not fully address the consequences of the changed situation.”
He stressed that “the circumstances require changing our decision issued on March 28,” declaring that “Israel must stop its military attack on Rafah.”
In the hearings held last week, South Africa asked the Court of Justice to order a halt to the attack on the Gaza Strip, and on Rafah in particular, in order to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.
This request for action is part of a larger lawsuit filed by the African country before the court in The Hague, accusing Israel of committing genocide, and Egypt joined South Africa’s request on May 12.
