The International Court of Justice has issued a ruling ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. While the court did not call for a full cease-fire in the enclave, the decision is expected to increase pressure on Israel, which has faced growing criticism for its actions in the war in Gaza.
The ruling comes as three European countries announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor for another international court requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure at home to end the conflict, which began when Hamas militants stormed into Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Despite the ICJ’s order, Israel has indicated it will not comply, with government spokesperson Avi Hyman stating, “No power on earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.” Netanyahu has called for a special ministerial meeting to discuss the response to the ruling, while opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision for not linking the end of the military operation in Rafah to the release of hostages.
The court’s ruling highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Rafah, where over 1 million people have sought refuge, and ordered Israel to keep the Rafah crossing open. While the court’s decision is a blow to Israel’s international standing, it lacks enforcement mechanisms, similar to a previous order ignored by Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine. The case against Israel for alleged genocide in Gaza is ongoing, with South Africa seeking interim measures to protect Palestinians during the legal process.