courtesy: sky newsThe top United Nations court has ordered Israel to “immediately” halt its military offensive in Gaza, especially on the city of Rafah. The court has described the situation of Rafah, where thousands of civilians are taking shelters, as “disastrous.”
The International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) President Nawaf Salam said, “[Israel must] 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.”
The emergency measures were ordered on the request of South Africa as part of its genocide case against Israel.
The international court has also ordered Israel to open Rafah borders with Egypt to allow movement of humanitarian aid.
“The presidency welcomes the decision issued by the International Court of Justice, which represents an international consensus on the demand to stop the all-out war on Gaza,” stated Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson of Palestinian authority.
Hamas officials welcomed the decision of the international that force the “Zionist occupation forces to end its military aggression on Rafah.”
Shortly after the ruling by ICJ, Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli finance minister, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote, “Those who demand that the State of Israel stop the war, demand that it decree itself to cease to exist. We will not agree to that.”
South Africa welcomes the order by ICJ. President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned that they are gravely concerned about the necessary levels of aid entering Gaza.
