International Court of Justice Orders Israel to Cease Military Offensive in Gaza’s Rafah
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and withdraw its troops from the area.
This directive comes amid a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide and citing immense risks to the Palestinian population.
The International Court of Justice’s 15-judge panel overwhelmingly supported the emergency order, with 13 judges agreeing that the conditions in Rafah are exceptionally dire.
The court’s president, Nawaf Salam, emphasized that the humanitarian situation in Rafah is “disastrous,” and noted that previous provisional measures issued in March were insufficient to address the ongoing crisis.
This decision marks the third time this year the International Court of Justice has issued orders to mitigate the death toll and humanitarian suffering in Gaza. However, while these orders are legally binding, the court lacks enforcement mechanisms.
