(Scypre.com) – In a historic decision on Friday, judges at the highest United Nations court commanded Israel to stop its military attacks on Rafah, a southern city in Gaza. This order came from a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, made this ruling even though it lacks the power to enforce it. This situation highlights Israel’s increasing global isolation due to its actions in Gaza, especially after it intensified its offensive against Rafah earlier this month, despite objections from the United States.
Reading the court’s decision, ICJ President Nawaf Salam stated that the conditions in Gaza had worsened since the last order for Israel to make improvements, warranting this new emergency ruling. He said, “The state of Israel shall…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 court criticized Israel for not explaining how it would protect the 800,000 Palestinians who had fled the city, ensuring their access to food, water, sanitation, and medical care. The ICJ also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza for aid and allow investigators access, demanding a report on its progress within a month.
The decision was supported by 13 of the 15 judges, with only the judges from Uganda and Israel dissenting. South Africa praised the ruling as groundbreaking, while a White House spokesperson reiterated the U.S. position on Rafah.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the ruling as a sign of global consensus that the war must end, although spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh felt it didn’t go far enough, as it didn’t address the broader conflict in Gaza. A senior Hamas official, Basem Naim, urged the U.N. Security Council to enforce the court’s decision.
In Israel, reactions were strong. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued that stopping the war would equate to the destruction of Israel, which he said was unacceptable. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the ruling “a moral collapse and a moral disaster” for not tying the halt in fighting to demands for Hamas to release hostages.
This ruling followed South Africa’s request as part of its case against Israel for violating the Genocide Convention. The ICJ, located in The Hague, is the highest U.N. body for disputes between states. While its rulings are final and binding, they have been ignored before due to the court’s lack of enforcement powers.
Israel has dismissed the genocide accusations, claiming its actions are self-defense against Hamas militants. An Israeli government spokesperson, before the decision, said, “no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.”
Outside the court, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed their support by waving flags and playing music calling for a free Palestine.
Israel’s attack on Rafah began earlier this month, displacing hundreds of thousands of people in the city, which had become a refuge for about half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population. Rafah is also a crucial entry point for aid, and international groups warn that Israel’s actions could lead to famine.
Israel argues that Rafah is a stronghold for Hamas fighters and leaders and says the city must be captured to defeat Hamas and rescue hostages. The fighting has mostly been on the outskirts of Rafah, with the U.S. urging Israel not to advance into the densely populated city without a solid plan to avoid mass casualties.
South Africa’s lawyers urged the ICJ to halt Israel’s Rafah operation to protect the Palestinian people. They also requested an end to the broader conflict in Gaza, although the court has not taken that step.
This decision came shortly after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) filed for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of serious crimes. Israel denied these charges and called on its allies to reject the court’s actions.
South Africa’s larger case against Israel at the ICJ alleges a state-led genocide against Palestinians. While the ICJ has not ruled on this accusation yet, it has refused Israel’s request to dismiss the case.
Israel began its air and ground offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli communities, resulting in about 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli sources. Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 35,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict.