In a pressing move, South Africa has called upon the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to urgently evaluate the Israeli military’s expansion into Rafah, Gaza, and to activate its authority to avert further potential rights violations against Palestinians.
This appeal follows a series of intense Israeli air strikes on Rafah, a critical sanctuary for displaced Palestinians, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 74 lives in recent days.
The situation escalated last week when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced preparations for a ground offensive in Rafah.
The UN’s top human rights official, Volker Turk, issued a stark warning on Monday, highlighting the grave risk to civilian lives, predominantly children and women, should such an assault proceed.
Turk emphasized Israel’s obligation to adhere to ICJ mandates and international humanitarian law, cautioning against any defiance of international statutes and underscoring the imperative of accountability.
He called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and urged influential global actors to exercise restraint. With more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents now concentrated in Rafah, the humanitarian situation is dire, marked by inadequate access to essential resources like safe water and food.
The ICJ, with its capacity to impose provisional measures in urgent cases, has received South Africa’s plea, spotlighting the dire consequences of the ongoing military operations in Rafah. The South African government expressed deep concern over the significant casualties and destruction, potentially constituting grave violations of the Genocide Convention and previous ICJ orders.
Last month, the ICJ set forth six provisional measures aimed at curbing actions contrary to the Genocide Convention and ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilians, highlighting the international community’s critical role in safeguarding human rights amidst conflict.
