Israel's stance on the World Court's order to cease its military offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza allows for some military action there, Israeli officials stated. The International Court of Justice issued an emergency ruling in South Africa's case against Israel for alleged genocide, instructing Israel to immediately stop its assault on Rafah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, emphasized that the order was not to commit genocide in Rafah, affirming Israel's position of not engaging in such acts. Hanegbi cited the right to self-defense under international law as justification for continuing military action.
An Israeli official also noted the conditional nature of the ICJ's ruling for the Rafah operation, highlighting that it does not prohibit all military action. The ICJ's president, Nawaf Salam, stated that Israel must halt its military offensive and any action in Rafah that could bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian population. However, the Israeli official reiterated the commitment to avoiding military action causing harm to the civilian population in Gaza.
Despite the court's inability to enforce its orders, the situation reflects Israel's increasing diplomatic isolation regarding its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. The offensive has resulted in a significant number of Palestinian casualties and extensive devastation in Gaza, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
