The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has denied South Africa’s urgent request for additional measures to prevent a military offensive against Rafah, initiated by Israel. While expressing concern about the situation in Gaza, the court emphasized Israel’s obligation to safeguard the safety and security of Palestinians in the region.
In response to South Africa’s application, the court noted that the recent military developments did not warrant additional measures but reiterated Israel’s duty to comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and the court’s previous order. This comes in light of South Africa’s assertion that an Israeli military offensive in Rafah, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could lead to large-scale harm and destruction, particularly for the vulnerable Palestinian population.
Rafah, currently home to a significant portion of Gaza’s population, is facing a humanitarian crisis, with concerns raised by various international bodies about the potential consequences of a military offensive. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Special Rapporteur, and UNICEF have all highlighted the urgent need to preserve essential services in Rafah to prevent a drastic humanitarian fallout.
In its defense, Israel argued that South Africa’s request was based on an exaggerated depiction of the military operation in Rafah and accused South Africa of neglecting pertinent information, including ongoing negotiation efforts for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The ICJ’s previous ruling mandated Israel to prevent acts falling within the scope of the Genocide Convention and take immediate measures to enable basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza. It also directed Israel to preserve evidence related to allegations of genocide and submit a report on the steps taken to comply with the order.
By declined South Africa’s new application, the ICJ upheld its stance on Israel’s obligations while underscoring the gravity of the situation in Gaza. The international community will be keenly observing Israel’s compliance with the court’s directives and the protection of civilians in the region.
