South Africa asks the UN's highest court to act against Israel's plans for Rafah
As Israel continues to warn that it is planning a ground invasion of Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice in The Hague to impose new restrictions on Israel's military offensive to prevent genocide.
In a document on Monday, the South African government said it was “deeply concerned” by Israel's planned advance on Rafah, where more than a million Gazans have sought shelter. – murder, damage and destruction on a large scale.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who has described Rafah as Hamas's last stronghold, said on Sunday that a ground invasion would take place there once Israel completed plans to allow the more than one million people sheltering in the city to move to Israel. safety.
In December, South Africa filed a case with the International Court of Justice, the UN's highest court, accusing Israel of genocide and asking the court to intervene with emergency orders.
In response, the court last month ordered Israel to ensure its actions would not lead to genocide and to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. But the court has not ordered a halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The process of determining whether Israel is committing genocide could take several years in court.
In its application on Monday, South Africa argued that a ground invasion of Rafah would violate the court's January orders and that the court should consider further emergency measures, although it did not set out what it said these should be.
The court said it had asked Israel for comment. Under the court's rules, the judges will have to consider South Africa's request as a priority. That could mean a hearing would have to be scheduled as early as Monday or a new order would have to be issued. The court also begins a six-day hearing on Monday on another matter involving Israel.
Israel's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, but Israel has rejected accusations of genocide.
On Monday, Israeli forces freed two hostages held in the city in a nighttime commando operation that was accompanied by a series of airstrikes. The Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 67 people were killed in the strikes. In total, more than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the ministry.
After the rescue mission, Mr. Netanyahu said that “only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all our hostages.”
Johnatan Reiss reporting contributed.