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Rabat – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered the Israeli government to “immediately halt its military offensive or any other action in Rafah” that may contribute to severe humanitarian crises.
Read by Judge Nawaf Salam today, the court’s decision emphasized the urgent need to prevent actions that could lead to the “physical destruction” of the Palestinian population in Gaza, “in whole or in part.”
Judge Salam stressed the gravity of the situation, noting that previous provisional measures taken by Israel did not fully address the humanitarian needs and the altered circumstances on the ground.
The ICJ also mandated Israel to ensure “unimpeded access” to Gaza for any UN-mandated investigative bodies. This measure aims to facilitate thorough investigations into allegations of genocide and other potential war crimes.
The court highlighted the necessity for immediate access to prevent the loss of crucial evidence.
In addition, the ICJ ordered Israel to report back within a month on the progress made in implementing these measures.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, reporting from The Hague, said that 13 of the 15 ICJ judges agreed that the situation in Rafah is a “red line,” using phrases like “exceptionally dire” to describe the situation.
Vaessen reported the main judge as stressing that with 800,000 Palestinians having been forced to flee Rafah as a result of the Israeli offensive, he did not believe Israel’s claims of providing safety and humanitarian access to Palestinian civilians.
She added that the ruling includes a directive to open the Rafah border crossing to allow the flow of humanitarian assistance, a critical step given the dire conditions faced by Gaza’s residents.
The Palestinian Authority has welcomed the ICJ’s decision, calling it a significant step towards ending the devastating war in Gaza.
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina stated that the ruling reflects a growing international consensus to halt the war and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor echoed this sentiment, urging UN member states to support the ICJ’s ruling. “I believe it’s a much stronger, in terms of wording, set of provisional measures, very clear call for a cessation,” she told public broadcaster SABC.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has intensified its ground offensive in Rafah over the past few weeks, penetrating deeper into the territory.
These attacks have resulted in significant destruction and the deaths of numerous innocent civilians. At least 800,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah in search of safety.
