The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a setback for Israel after ordering it to immediately cease its offensive in Rafah, citing the immense risk it poses to the population. This decision follows a request for an arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The humanitarian situation in Rafah was described as disastrous by the judges, with over 800,000 people forced to evacuate due to Israeli air strikes and ground operations. The lack of adequate facilities and resources in the designated protection zone for refugees was a major concern. The ICJ granted a request by South Africa for additional emergency measures in the case against Israel for violating the Genocide Convention.
Despite the binding nature of the court’s decisions for all UN members, enforcement is a challenge. Israel’s compliance with the orders remains uncertain, as it has rejected accusations and attributed the blockade of aid deliveries to Egypt. The pressure to halt the offensive is mounting, with warnings from allies like the USA against the humanitarian consequences.
Amid doubts within the army leadership about the success of the current approach, discussions about a post-war strategy have intensified. The International Criminal Court’s request for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders on suspicion of war crimes added to
