The order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) further ratchets up international pressure on an increasingly isolated Israel to rein in its war on Hamas in Gaza.
The decision marked the third time this year the 15-judge panel has issued preliminary orders seeking to reduce the death toll and alleviate humanitarian suffering in the territory as part of a case filed late last year by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide, allegations vehemently denied by Israel.
"The court considers that, in conformity with the obligations, under the genocide convention, Israel must immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah 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's president, Nawaf Salam said. The decison was made by 13 votes to two.
Judge Salam said Israel must also allow "unimpeded access" for any fact-finding or investigative mission sent by the United Nations to investigate the genocide allegations. The court said Israel must also reopen the Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt - with the Israeli military having taken control of the Gaza side earlier this month - to allow humanitarian aid to flow into the enclave.
The court did not call for a full ceasefire throughout Gaza as South Africa had requested at hearings last week. It has already found that Israel's military operations pose a "real and imminent risk" to the Palestinian people in Gaza.
This story is from the May 25, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the May 25, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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