Israel Responds to ICJ Order on Rafah Offensive
The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah, Gaza. Israel interprets this order as conditional, allowing room for self-defense against Hamas. Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Israel has responded to a World Court (International Court of Justice, ICJ) order demanding an immediate halt to its military offensive in Rafah, Gaza.
The ICJ issued this emergency ruling following a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, clarified that the order does not prevent Israel from defending itself against Hamas fighters in Rafah.
While the ICJ ruling demands an end to military actions that could lead to the physical destruction of the Palestinian group in Gaza, Israeli officials interpret the order as conditional, not a blanket prohibition of all military activities.
The ICJ has not commented on Israel's interpretation of the order.
The ongoing conflict, intensified since Hamas's attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7 of the previous year, has resulted in nearly 36,000 Palestinian deaths, per Gaza's health ministry, and severe devastation of Gaza.
The ICJ issued this emergency ruling following a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, clarified that the order does not prevent Israel from defending itself against Hamas fighters in Rafah.
While the ICJ ruling demands an end to military actions that could lead to the physical destruction of the Palestinian group in Gaza, Israeli officials interpret the order as conditional, not a blanket prohibition of all military activities.
The ICJ has not commented on Israel's interpretation of the order.
The ongoing conflict, intensified since Hamas's attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7 of the previous year, has resulted in nearly 36,000 Palestinian deaths, per Gaza's health ministry, and severe devastation of Gaza.
