ICJ rules Israel must cease operations in Rafah

The International Court of Justice at the Hague issued an unprecedented order today (Friday) to Israel to stop the war in the southern Gaza Strip and the Rafah area.

The ICJ's President, Judge Nawaf Salam from Lebanon, read the court's decision regarding South Africa's request to stop the war entirely. He said that the court is not convinced that Israel's efforts to evacuate and aid Gazans is sufficient to remove the tangible threat to Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip.

The President also said that he does not believe that Israel's supply efforts throughout the Strip satisfy the conditions established by the court's first injunctions which spoke of continuous and unlimited access to critical humanitarian aid.

According to the court's decision, South Africa's request was not adopted in full but only in part. The court also demanded that Israel submit reports describing its actions to stop the war and increase aid during the month of June.

According to international law, only the UN Security Council can fully enforce the court's decisions, and Israeli leaders will now have to choose how to respond.