ICJ orders Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. To what consequences? | DW News

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah amid mounting international criticism. The court has no means of enforcing the ruling which senior Israeli politicians have criticized.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to "immediately" halt its military offensive in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. Panel judges voted 13 to 2 in favor of the order, which characterized the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "disastrous" and "catastrophic."

What has the ICJ said?
The ICJ said Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in the Rafah Governorate which may inflict on Palestinian groups in Gaza conditions of life that would bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

It added that Israel must keep the Rafah crossing open for "unhindered provision" of aid at the scale necessary to provide "urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance."

The court said that 800,000 people would be displaced by May 28 and found that Israeli efforts to alleviate risk to civilians or provide necessary food, water or shelter were "not sufficient." The World Court added that Israel "must take measures to ensure unimpeded access into the Gaza Strip for inquirers." Friday's decision marked the third time this year that the ICJ has issued preliminary orders seeking to reduce deaths and suffering in Gaza.

Chapters:
00:00 What has the ICJ said?
01:07 Marc Weller, Professor of International Law & International Constitutional Studies, University of Cambridge
08:35 Aya Ibrahim, DW Correspondent in Jerusalem, Dianne Hawker, DW Correspondent in Johannesburg
12:40 Michael Becker, Assistant Professor of International Human Rights Law, Trinity College Dublin and former legal advisor at the International Court of Justice