Israeli air raids and artillery pummelling Rafah on Saturday, despite the United Nations’ top court ordering an immediate halt to the military offensive in the southern Gaza city.
Simultaneously, intensified negotiations were underway in Paris to secure a ceasefire in the war launched by the Palestinian group Hamas’ extraordinary October 7 attack on Israel.
In a complaint submitted by South Africa alleging that the Israeli military operation amounts to genocide, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive and requested the immediate release of captives still held by the Palestinian group.
The Hague-based International Court of Justice (Top UN Court), whose judgments are legally binding but lack direct enforcement measures, also ordered Israel to remain open at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israel closed earlier this month.
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Israel made no indication that it was planning to change course in Rafah, claiming that the court had gotten it wrong.
“Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part”, said National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi in a joint statement with Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman.
Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, hailed the ICJ’s ruling on Rafah but condemned the decision to exclude the remaining portion of Palestinian territory from the order.
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