Israel prepared to escalate assault on Rafah as UN’s highest court urged to step in

Israel’s defence minister has announced that additional troops are being deployed to join the ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as the military ramps up its efforts to dismantle Hamas. Yoav Gallant, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, stated that Israeli forces are already making progress in Rafah, despite the operation not yet reaching full scale.

“This operation will continue as additional forces will enter [the area]. Several tunnels in the area have been destroyed by our troops and additional tunnels will be destroyed soon,” Gallant said in a statement. He emphasized that the activity will intensify, asserting that Hamas is unable to reorganize or replenish its forces, making it vulnerable to Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile, South Africa has taken the issue to the top United Nations court, urging for an immediate halt to the operation in Rafah to protect the Palestinian population. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has scheduled hearings to address South Africa’s accusations against Israel, alleging genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The hearings at the ICJ come after South Africa’s plea for emergency measures to safeguard Rafah, where over a million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israel has refuted the claims of genocide, stating that it is necessary to continue the operation in Rafah as part of its campaign against Hamas, which was triggered by an attack on Israel in October.

In response to the escalating conflict, the United States has anchored a temporary floating pier off the coast of Gaza to facilitate aid deliveries. However, challenges remain in distributing the aid effectively amidst the ongoing violence and unrest in the region.

Ceasefire and hostage release negotiations have hit a deadlock, with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh advocating for continued involvement in Gaza’s governance while mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, push for a resolution to end the war.

In a separate development, Israeli tanks have entered the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, facing resistance from militants in the area. The Israeli military reported casualties among its soldiers, with five fatalities resulting from tank fire.

The re-entry of Israeli ground forces into northern Gaza aims to suppress Hamas’s attempts to regroup and launch further attacks. The recent escalation in violence underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges in reaching a peaceful resolution to the conflict.