International Court of Justice on 'Rafah': Attacks must stop immediately

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah. The ICJ announced its decision regarding additional provisional measures requested in the "genocide" case brought by the Republic of South Africa against Israel, which includes a demand for Israel to stop its military operations in Rafah.

The President of the Court, Lebanese Judge Nawaf Salam, read the court's decisions in a public session.

MILITARY OFFENSIVE MUST STOP

The decision stated that the situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly since the ruling on January 26, particularly regarding access to food and the humanitarian situation, and noted that if Israeli attacks on Rafah continue, the humanitarian situation will deteriorate to a catastrophic level.

Reporting that the humanitarian situation in Gaza under Israeli attacks has worsened and that new provisional measures are required, the Court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the city of Rafah.

"RAFAH BORDER CROSSING MUST BE KEPT OPEN"

Secondly, the Court requested that Israel keep the Rafah border crossing open to ensure the unhindered provision of urgently needed services and humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The ICJ also demanded that Israel take effective measures to ensure the unhindered access of experts mandated by UN authorized bodies to investigate allegations of genocide into the Gaza Strip, and ruled that Israel must submit a report to the Court within one month regarding all measures taken.

NEW MODIFIED MEASURES

The judges of the Court, by a vote of 13 to 2:

Confirmed that the provisional measures dated January 26, 2024, and March 28, 2024, remain in effect;

Ordered the immediate cessation of military offensives and any other actions in the Rafah Governorate that could inflict conditions of life on the Palestinian group in Gaza that could lead to its physical destruction in whole or in part;

Ordered that the Rafah Border Crossing be kept open to ensure the unhindered provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid;

Ordered that effective measures be taken to ensure the unhindered access of any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission, or other investigative body mandated by the United Nations to investigate allegations of genocide into the Gaza Strip;

Ruled that Israel must submit a report to the Court within one month from the date of the decision regarding all measures taken to implement the current ruling.

The Vice-President of the Court, Ugandan judge Sebutinde, and the Israeli ad hoc judge Aharon Barak voted against all the measures.