On the Rafah offensive
South Africa fails with urgent application against Israel in UN court
February 17, 2024, 6:47 a.m
South Africa is demanding that the United Nations International Court of Justice review the legality of a military offensive by the Israeli army in the southern Gaza Strip. But The Hague rejects the application – and refers to another decision.
The United Nations International Court of Justice has rejected an urgent request from South Africa to review the legality of a military offensive planned by Israel in the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The dangerous situation in the place full of refugees requires “the immediate and effective implementation of the court’s requests,” which it issued at the end of January, the court announced on Friday at its headquarters in The Hague. These requests would apply to the entire Gaza Strip, including Rafah. “It is not necessary to adopt additional measures,” the court stated.
The judges had ordered Israel in January to prevent genocide in the Gaza Strip and to do everything in its power to protect the lives of Palestinians. Israel must therefore also allow more humanitarian aid.
This was a preliminary decision in the case that South Africa had brought against Israel at the United Nations’ highest court. South Africa accuses Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. Israel firmly rejects the allegations.
Many refugees in Rafah
After Israel recently announced a military offensive in Rafah, South Africa submitted an urgent request earlier this week. The world court should examine the legality of this operation and clarify whether it does not violate the order from the end of January.
In Rafah, right on the Egyptian border, 1.3 million people are crowded together in a very small space. Most of them have fled from other parts of the Gaza Strip to seek protection from the war under difficult conditions. Israel asserts that it wants to bring people to safety before starting a military offensive.
Allies of the Jewish state such as the USA and Germany recently made it clear that they strongly advise Israel against large-scale military action in Rafah. The United Nations has warned of a massive humanitarian catastrophe if such an offensive were to occur. The Gaza war was triggered by an unprecedented attack on southern Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas and other extremists on October 7, 2023.