Israel intensifies military action on Gaza, defying ICJ directive for immediate halt

Soon after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) directed an immediate stoppage of its military onslaught on Rafah, Israel intensified its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the plight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, had issued a ruling mandating Israel to cease its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It also instructed Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which had been closed amidst the ongoing conflict. Despite the legally binding nature of ICJ orders, Israel has shown no signs of compliance, maintaining that the court's decision is flawed.

The situation on the ground remains tumultuous. Palestinian witnesses and AFP correspondents reported extensive Israeli airstrikes not only in Rafah but also in the central city of Deir al-Balah.

Civilians in these areas have expressed despair and frustration over the continued violence. Oum Mohammad al-Ashqa, a displaced Palestinian woman from Gaza City, lamented the catastrophic conditions and hoped the court’s ruling might pressure Israel to cease its military actions.

The ICJ’s ruling was a response to a petition from South Africa, which has accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza. The court emphasized that Israel's actions could lead to conditions of life that might result in the physical destruction of the Palestinian group in Gaza, either wholly or in part. The ICJ also called for Israel to grant UN-mandated investigators unrestricted access to Gaza to examine the allegations of genocide.

International reactions to the ICJ ruling have been varied. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision, seeing it as an international consensus against the war on Gaza. Hamas also expressed approval, urging the United Nations Security Council to ensure the implementation of the court’s demands.

On the other hand, Israeli officials have dismissed the ruling. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich asserted that halting military operations would equate to Israel ceasing to exist, framing the conflict as a fight for survival against forces akin to Hamas and ISIS.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the ICJ for failing to consider the return of Israeli hostages and Israel's right to defend itself, labelling the ruling a moral disaster.

The ruling has also garnered significant support and calls for enforcement from various international leaders and organizations. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the severe humanitarian impact of Israel’s actions and called for adherence to the court’s directives, an Al Jazeera report said.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, highlighted the need for the EU to clarify its stance, balancing support for international law with its relationship with Israel.

Meanwhile, reactions from other countries and organizations have stressed the necessity of legal compliance. Egypt's foreign ministry reiterated Israel’s legal responsibilities as an occupying power and urged it to stop its actions against Palestinians. The Turkish foreign ministry and Saudi Arabia echoed calls for the immediate implementation of the ICJ’s decision, stressing that no country is above international law.

In the US, responses have been polarized. Senator Lindsay Graham rejected the ICJ’s ruling, calling for its outright dismissal and questioning the credibility of international justice institutions. Conversely, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Israel’s actions as genocidal, urging the Biden administration to halt military support to Israel in light of the ruling.

Human rights organizations and legal experts have also weighed in. Human Rights Watch highlighted the gravity of the situation in Gaza, urging governments to leverage their influence to ensure Israel complies with the ICJ’s measures. War crimes prosecutor Reed Brody praised the ICJ for addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and underscored the significance of the court’s decision in conjunction with actions by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor.

The ICJ has ordered Israel to report back within a month on its progress in implementing the measures. However, with Israel showing no signs of compliance and international reactions split, the path to resolving the crisis appears fraught with challenges.