The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected South Africa’s request to order Israel to take more steps to protect Palestinians in Gaza from a possible attack on Rafah, a city near the Egyptian border.
South Africa, which has accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention by its military campaign in Gaza, had asked the court to impose new measures in light of Israel’s preparations for a major operation in Rafah.
The court, however, said that Israel was already obliged to follow its previous order of January 26, which called on Israel to safeguard Palestinian civilians and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The ICJ also noted that the situation in Gaza was a “humanitarian nightmare” that could have “untold regional consequences”, quoting the UN chief.
South Africa expressed its disappointment with the court’s decision, but reiterated its demand for Israel to comply with the existing measures and ensure the safety and security of all Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel, meanwhile, said it would coordinate with Egypt before launching any offensive in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people have sought refuge from the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Israel’s assault on Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack on October 7, has killed nearly 29,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded more than 100,000 others, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
