The International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Israel to halt its military operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, due to the “direct threat” to the rights of the civilian population. The court also ordered that free access be provided to the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to transport humanitarian aid. Third, the court found that Israel must allow investigators access to the Gaza Strip and take steps to avoid destroying evidence relating to the Genocide Convention.
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“It is not a blow that Israel can ignore.”
The court found that Israel did not do enough to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip, and that there was a direct and tangible danger to the residents of Rafah. Israel must submit a report within a month on the progress made in implementing the measures ordered by the court. Thirteen judges supported the court's ruling, while two opposed it, including Aharon Barak, who was nominated by Israel to serve on the court. The court made almost no comment on the Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, except for a note in which Judge Nawaf Salam, the court's president, called for their release near the end of the sentence.
Today's court rulings are in response to a request made by the South African government. The court has not yet ruled on the main request submitted by South Africa, which calls for Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip to be considered genocide.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency meeting with Attorney General Galli Baharav Meara, ministers and lawyers, after the court ruling was announced.
Separately, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which also sits in The Hague, asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and the Defense Minister on charges of war crimes.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on May 24, 2024.
© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.