Human Rights Watch said on Monday that Israel has not complied with the United Nations Supreme Court’s order to provide urgent aid to the desperate people in the Gaza Strip, a month after a historic ruling in The Hague ordered Israel to alleviate its war efforts.
In an initial response to South Africa’s legal action accusing Israel of committing genocide, the UN’s International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent death, destruction, and any acts of genocide in Gaza. However, it did not go as far as ordering an end to Israel’s military assault, which has caused a humanitarian disaster in the small Palestinian territory.
Israel strongly denies the accusations against it, stating that it is waging a war in self-defense.
One month later, and nearly five months after the war began, preparations are now underway for Israel to expand its ground operation in Rafah, the city located at the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip along the border with Egypt, where 1.4 million Palestinians are seeking safety.
Global Concern
Early on Monday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the military had presented its operational plan in Rafah to the war cabinet, in addition to plans for evacuating civilians from combat zones. However, no further details were provided.
The situation in Rafah, where dense tents have been set up to shelter displaced people, has raised global concern and prompted Israel’s allies to recommend the need to protect civilians in its battle against Hamas.
Resignation of Shtayyeh’s Government
Also on Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced that he had submitted his government’s resignation.
This move, which is still pending acceptance or rejection by President Mahmoud Abbas, could pave the way for US-backed reforms in the Palestinian Authority, which Washington wants to govern Gaza after the war but in a renewed form.
In its ruling issued last month, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to follow six provisional measures, including taking “immediate and effective actions to enable the provision of essential services and humanitarian aid needed to address the adverse living conditions faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”
Under the order, Israel is also required to report on what it is doing to comply with the measures within a month.
While Monday marks a month since the court’s order was issued, it was not clear at the moment whether Israel had submitted such a report.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry had not yet commented.
