WEB DESK: Responding to South Africa’s appeal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) addressed issues arising from operations in Rafah.
Court’s Decision
Justice Nawaf Salam, in a 13-2 majority decision, instructed Israel to immediately halt military operations in Rafah. Israel must submit a compliance report within one month.
Impact on Palestinian Civilians
The ruling emphasized that Israeli actions in Rafah pose severe risks to Palestinian civilians. Essential infrastructure in Gaza is already destroyed. The ICJ noted that civilians in Gaza face dire humanitarian and economic conditions. Military operations in Rafah could lead to tragic humanitarian consequences.
Measures to Improve Conditions
The ICJ called for Israel to present measures to improve the situation in Gaza within a month. The ruling also directed Israel to allow international investigative team members entry into Gaza.
Access for UN Fact-Finding Mission
The ICJ instructed Israel to grant access to Gaza for the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission.
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Timeline of Events
The Israeli military initiated ground operations in Rafah on May 7. South Africa requested a cessation of operations on May 10. South Africa filed a request against Israel under the Geneva Convention. Conditions in Palestine have deteriorated since March 28, with military action in Rafah on April 7 displacing approximately 100,000 individuals.
