The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a legally binding order demanding Israel to immediately stop its military attacks on Rafah.
The ruling was approved by a vote of 13-2, with only Uganda and Israel dissenting,
“Israel must immediately halt its military offensive of 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,” said presiding judge Nawaf Salam.
The new measure is delivered “in conformity with Israel’s obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and given the worsening conditions of life faced by civilians in the Rafah Governorate.”
The ruling says Israel must reopen the Rafah crossing into Gaza and “ensure the unimpeded access of commissions of inquiry or investigative bodies mandated by the UN to investigate allegations of genocide”.
This decision arrives two weeks after South Africa petitioned ICJ to impose additional emergency measures on Israel over its bombardment of Rafah.
In the past two weeks, Israel’s assault has left entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian residents from their homes.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, welcomed the ruling and urged Israel to comply. Israel dismissed the verdict and signalled its intention to disregard any order from the court.
Islam Channel broadcasted the ruling live on Friday. You can watch it below.
