On May 24, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of South Africa’s claim for an injunction to cease the military operation in Rafah. The court demanded an immediate halt to military action in the region, citing potential negative impacts on the civilian population. This decision comes after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concern about the IDF military operation in Gaza, calling the level of destruction “absolutely unacceptable.”
Guterres emphasized the importance of upholding international law and humanitarian law, stating that decisions made by the International Court of Justice must be respected. He made it clear that compliance with these decisions is not optional, but mandatory. In an interview with Japanese television channel NHK, he called on Israel to adhere to the court’s decision regarding the military operation in Rafah and to prioritize the protection of civilians in the region.
The lawsuit filed by South Africa accused Israel of causing “irreparable damage” by controlling border crossings and threatening the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel denied these accusations, stating that military operations in Rafah target Hamas militants with precision and do not impose restrictions on humanitarian aid. The conflict between the accusations and denials highlights the complexity of the situation in Gaza and the need for international cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis.
