KUALA LUMPUR – The International Court of Justice will rule today on South Africa’s request to halt Israel’s Rafah offensive in Gaza.
Last week, South Africa asked the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to stop Israel’s offensive in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, arguing that this measure was necessary to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.
The demand for such an emergency measure is part of a larger case brought before the Hague-based court by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, Reuters reported.
An Israeli government spokesman, speaking in Jerusalem ahead of the decision, said: “No power on earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.”
ICJ decisions have been ignored in the past. Although the top UN legal body has no way to enforce its rulings, they carry significant international weight.
A ruling against Israel could add to its political isolation after a series of setbacks this week.
Several European countries said they would recognise a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) applied for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and leaders of Hamas.
The ICC prosecutes individuals for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, while the ICJ is the highest UN body for resolving disputes between states.
Israel has denounced South Africa’s claim that it is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, saying this makes a mockery of the crime of genocide.
The court has previously rejected Israel’s demand to throw out the case and has ordered it to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians, while stopping short of ordering a halt to Israeli military operations.
South Africa asked for additional emergency measures to protect Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have been sheltering.
It also asked the panel of 15 permanent judges and one ad hoc Israeli judge to order Israel to allow unimpeded access to Gaza for UN officials, organisations providing humanitarian aid, journalists and investigators.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 35,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with at least 10,000 more missing, Gaza’s Health Ministry has said. – May 24, 2024