The decision of the International Court of Justice, today, Friday, to stop the Israeli attack on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, was welcomed by Arab and international audiences, and demands to compel Israel to comply with the decision.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice, today, to stop the Israeli aggression against Rafah immediately, but said that it expected the court to issue a decision to stop the aggression and genocide against the entire Gaza Strip.
She added that the horrific massacres happening in Jabalia and other governorates of the Strip are no less criminal and dangerous than what is happening in Rafah.
The movement called on the international community and all relevant United Nations institutions, especially the UN Security Council, to put pressure on the occupation to immediately abide by this resolution and other UN resolutions that force it to stop the genocidal war it has been committing for 7 months.
The Hamas statement also affirmed that the international community is concerned and required not to allow Israel to continue to flout all international laws and conventions, and to escape accountability and punishment.
Arab reactions
For its part, the Palestinian presidency welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice, and demanded an end to the comprehensive Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.
The Arab group in the Security Council also welcomed the resolution, and said that Israel must implement the measures immediately and without delay.
In turn, Jordan said that the Court of Justice revealed Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and the Security Council must bear its responsibility and put an end to Israel’s impunity.
Egypt also welcomed the court’s decision and called on Israel to comply with it.
Internationally
At the international level, Turkey and Belgium welcomed the court’s decision, which ordered Israel to stop attacking Rafah and open the crossing to aid, and called for a ceasefire.
For his part, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said that the decision of the International Court of Justice to stop genocide by the Netanyahu government shows the nature of barbarism against Palestine.
Meanwhile, Canada said, “We expect all parties to abide by international law.”
The spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations confirmed that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are binding on the parties concerned.
For his part, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, “We will have to choose between our support for international institutions concerned with the rule of law and our support for Israel.”
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are mandatory and do not require approval by the Security Council, and the court’s decision only cancels a court decision.
In turn, Human Rights Watch said that the decision of the International Court of Justice confirms the seriousness of the situation in Gaza, where there is no safe place, and civilians face famine.
Court decision
With the approval of 13 of its members and the rejection of two members, the Court of Justice issued, earlier today, Friday, new temporary measures demanding that Israel immediately stop its attack on Rafah, maintain the opening of the Rafah crossing to facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza, and submit a report to the court within a month on the steps taken. taken in this regard.
These new measures came from the court, which is the highest judicial body in the United Nations, in response to a request from South Africa as part of a comprehensive lawsuit filed by Pretoria at the end of December 2023, accusing Tel Aviv of committing genocide crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Since May 6, Israel has been launching a ground attack on Rafah, and the next day it seized the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, closing it to the crossing of the wounded and already scarce humanitarian aid.
The attack also caused the displacement of nearly a million Palestinians from Rafah, according to the United Nations, after the city contained 1.5 million, including 1.4 million displaced people from other parts of the Strip.
In the same lawsuit, on January 26, 2024, the Court of Justice issued other temporary measures ordering Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which Israel has been besieging for 17 years, but Tel Aviv did not Do what the court asks.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip left more than 116,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and about 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and the closure of crossings that threaten to cause famine.