The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, Gaza. The ruling, issued on May 24, 2024, comes amid accusations of genocide by South Africa. The court's decision, supported by a 13-2 vote, emphasizes the need to prevent conditions that could lead to the physical destruction of Palestinians. Israel has responded by stating it will not conduct operations that risk civilian destruction, but ambiguity remains over the interpretation of the ruling.
The ICJ's ruling is significant as it represents a major international intervention in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The decision adds pressure on Israel to reconsider its military strategy in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, where humanitarian conditions have been described as disastrous. This ruling could influence future international legal actions and diplomatic relations, especially as several European countries have recognized the Palestinian state. The outcome of this ruling may also impact the lives of civilians in Gaza, potentially leading to increased humanitarian aid and international scrutiny.
The ICJ's ruling follows a series of legal and diplomatic actions against Israel's military operations in Gaza. South Africa filed a case accusing Israel of genocide, leading to multiple provisional measures by the ICJ. The conflict escalated after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in a significant Israeli military response. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, has deteriorated, with thousands of casualties and widespread displacement. The ICJ's intervention aims to address these humanitarian concerns and prevent further escalation.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.
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South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. With over 59 million people, it is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the largest country in the Central American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the northwest, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3,769,495 inhabitants make it the most populous city proper of the European Union. The city is one of Germany's 16 federal states.
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The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1948 as General Assembly Resolution 260. The Convention entered into force on 12 January 1951.