An Israeli air strike on Rafah, which killed 45 people in a displacement camp according to Hamas officials, shows “contempt” for a recent ruling by the top UN court, the head of the African Union Commission stated on Monday.
“With horrific overnight airstrikes killing mostly Palestinian women and children, the State of Israel continues to violate international law with impunity and in contempt of an ICJ (International Court of Justice) ruling two days ago ordering an end to its military action in Rafah,” Moussa Faki Mahamat said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He stressed the urgent need for enforcing the ICJ’s order, stating, “The ICJ order must be urgently enforced if global order is to prevail.”
The ICJ’s ruling came from a case brought by South Africa, which accused Israel’s military operation of amounting to “genocide.” On Friday, the ICJ ordered Israel to cease its offensive in Rafah, release hostages, and ensure the “unhindered provision” of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The Hague-based ICJ, while having legally binding orders, lacks direct enforcement mechanisms. It also instructed Israel to keep the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza open, following Israel’s seizure of the Palestinian side earlier this month, which effectively closed it.
Israel has rejected the ruling, claiming the court’s decision was erroneous.
The Gaza conflict began after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,170 deaths, mostly civilians, according to AFP’s tally based on Israeli official figures. Hamas also took 252 hostages, with 121 remaining in Gaza, including 37 whom the army reports as dead.
In retaliation, Israel’s offensive has killed at least 35,984 people in Gaza, primarily women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
