The ICJ orders Israel to halt its military operations in Rafah

Hague May 24, 2024 (QJ) -The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Judge Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), delivered the court’s ruling today.

The court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, issued this ruling as part of a genocide lawsuit filed by South Africa.

In its judgment, the court noted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has “worsened even further” since it ordered provisional measures in March.

The court highlighted that nearly 800,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah since May 18, following Israel’s military operations on May 7.

Israel had warned civilians in parts of the city to evacuate before its operations, but the court stated that these efforts were “insufficient to mitigate the substantial risks faced by Palestinian civilians as a result of” Israel’s offensive.

Israel has signaled it will not comply with the ruling, and the court has no way of enforcing its decision.