Israel reacted Friday to the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering it to immediately stop its offensive on Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, affirming that it posed no existential risk for the “civilian population Palestinian”.
“Israel has not carried out and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area which create living conditions likely to lead to the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part,” assures a joint statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Council.
“Following the horrific terrorist attack against civilians on October 7,” Israel launched “a just and defensive war to eliminate Hamas and free the hostages,” in accordance with “international humanitarian law,” responds Israel after more than seven months of war having devastated the Gaza Strip.
“Israel will continue to allow the Rafah crossing point to remain open for the entry of humanitarian assistance from the Egyptian side of the border,” the text continues, adding that Israel “will prevent terrorist groups from controlling the crossing” .
Despite international pressure and the threat, particularly from the United States, of arms deliveries to its historic ally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted for months that he is determined to launch a major ground offensive against the city of Rafah where, he claims, the last battalions of Hamas are hiding.
On May 6, the Israeli army ordered the population to evacuate eastern neighborhoods of Rafah where, according to the UN, 1.4 million Palestinians were trapped, the vast majority displaced by seven months of Israeli bombings and fighting. which left the rest of the Gaza Strip in ruins.
On May 7, Israel announced that it had taken control of the Rafah crossing point on the Palestinian side and was launching operations in eastern Rafah. The military operation and bombings in the area pushed more than 800,000 Palestinians to flee towards the north of the narrow Palestinian territory. Israel assures that its offensive in Rafah remains “limited”.
The ICJ’s orders are legally binding but it has no way of enforcing them.
