On Friday, May 24, the top court of the United Nations (UN) is set to make a ruling regarding South Africa's request for Israel to cease its Rafah offensive and withdraw from Gaza. South Africa's legal representatives urged the court to implement urgent measures, emphasizing that Israel's attacks on the southern Gaza city are imperative to stop in order to safeguard the survival of the Palestinian people. However, rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, although final and binding, have been disregarded in the past due to the court's lack of enforcement powers.
An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the army is conducting operations in Rafah with meticulous care and precision, given the extensive number of Palestinians who have sought shelter in the region from Israeli airstrikes and military activities across the Palestinian enclave. Meanwhile, several European nations announced their intention to officially recognize a Palestinian state. In addition, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) disclosed that an application for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders has been submitted. The ICC focuses on prosecuting individuals for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, while the ICJ functions as the top U.N. authority for resolving disputes between states.
It is noteworthy that the ICJ had previously dismissed Israel's plea to dismiss the overall case. Instead, the court mandated preventing acts of genocide against the Palestinians, facilitating the flow of aid, and refrained from ordering a cessation of Israeli military operations.
