Hague court demands Israel to stop its offensive on Rafah
Archive photo: The Hague court orders Israel to stop its offensive on Rafah (facebook com tzahalonline)
The International Court of Justice has demanded that the Israeli authorities immediately stop the attack on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, according to Bild.
The decision was made following a lawsuit by the Republic of South Africa.
Why the court made this decision
The court cited the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Rafah as the reason for its decision.
"Additional measures are now urgently needed to prevent further harm to the civilian population," the court's verdict states.
However, while decisions of the International Court of Justice are formally binding, the judges do not have the authority to compel a country to comply with the decision. The court in The Hague can call on the UN Security Council to take action on this issue.
Israel's position
Israel has rejected the accusations of genocide in the Gaza Strip at the International Court of Justice as unfounded. The Israeli representative stated that the claims made by South Africa are a distortion of reality.
As an argument, Israel refers to its right to self-defense after Hamas militants invaded the country on 7 October last year and killed more than 1,200 people.
The offensive on Rafah
In Rafah, the Israeli army intends to defeat the last remaining Hamas battalions and release hostages.
At the same time, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is pressuring Israel to limit its military operation in the Gaza Strip.
