The United Nations’ highest court has ordered Israel to “immediately” cease its military attack on Rafah, calling the humanitarian situation in the southern Gaza city, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering, “disastrous.”
Israel must “immediately end its military offensive and any other actions in the Rafah governorate that could inflict living conditions on the Palestinian Gaza group that could lead to its physical destruction, in whole or in part,” the statement said. International Court of Justice (ICJ). said President Nawaf Salam.
The emergency measures were ordered at the request of South Africa as part of its genocide case against Israel.
The ICJ ordered Israel to report to it within a month on its progress in implementing the measures ordered by the institution. He also ordered Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to humanitarian aid.
Here are some reactions from leaders and organizations around the world:
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority
“The presidency welcomes the decision rendered by the International Court of Justice, which represents an international consensus on the demand to end the all-out war against Gaza,” Rudeineh said.
Basam Naim, Hamas official
Naim said Hamas welcomed the World Court’s decision “which calls on the Zionist occupying forces to end their military aggression against Rafah.”
He added that the group also welcomes the court’s request to allow investigators in the Gaza Strip to investigate “acts of genocide against the Palestinian people and Hamas is committed to cooperating with the investigative committees.”
Naim said Hamas is also calling on the UN Security Council to immediately implement the ICJ’s demands.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
Shortly after the ICJ’s decision, Smotrich wrote on the social media platform ‘exist. We will not accept this.
“We continue to fight for ourselves and for the entire free world. History will judge who stood today alongside the Nazis of Hamas and ISIS (ISIL),” he added.
Yaïr Lapid, leader of the Israeli opposition
“The failure of the Hague tribunal to make the connection in its decision between the cessation of fighting in Rafah and the return of the hostages and Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism is a moral collapse and a disaster moral,” Lapid said. .
Benny Gantz, Minister of War
Gantz said Israel “has embarked on a just and necessary campaign following the brutal massacre of its citizens, the heinous sexual violence perpetrated against its women, the kidnapping of its children and the firing of rockets on its cities.”
“The State of Israel is determined to continue the fight to return its hostages and promise the safety of its citizens – wherever and whenever necessary – including in Rafah,” he added.
Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zohar
“The judges of the High Court in The Hague are invited to come to Gaza and convince Hamas to bring our abductees home,” Zohar said on X.
“Until that happens, it is clear that there is no possibility of stopping the fighting in Rafah. »
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
“South Africa welcomes today’s order by the International Court of Justice. We are deeply concerned that Israel has restricted the entry of necessary levels of aid into Gaza and has systematically targeted aid and aid infrastructure in Gaza.
“This case therefore focuses on ordinary Palestinians in Gaza who are now facing their seventh month of suffering in the form of collective punishment for something for which they have no individual responsibility.
“South Africa remains concerned that the United Nations Security Council has so far failed to end human suffering. »
South African manager Zane Dangor
Dangor said the court’s decision “is revolutionary.”
“This de facto amounts to calling for a ceasefire. He orders the main party in this conflict to end its belligerent action against the Palestinian people,” he said.
“This order, like the others… is binding, and Israel must adhere to it. »
Josep Borrell, head of foreign policy of the European Union
Borrell said the EU should express its position on the ICJ ruling.
“We will have to choose between our support for international rule of law institutions or our support for Israel,” he said.
Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Egypt calls on Israel to respect its legal obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and international humanitarian law, and to implement all provisional measures issued by the ICJ, which are considered as legally binding and enforceable. , because they are issued by the highest international judicial authority.
“Egypt underlines that Israel bears full legal responsibility for the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip as the occupying power, calling on Israel to end its systematic policies of targeting, starvation and siege against the Palestinian people, in violation of all provisions of international law and international humanitarian law.”
United States Senator Lindsay Graham
“As far as I’m concerned, the ICJ can go to hell. It is high time to stand up to these so-called international justice organizations associated with the UN. Their anti-Israel bias is overwhelming.
“The ICJ’s decision that Israel should stop the operations necessary to destroy four battalions of Hamas killers and terrorists – who use Palestinians as human shields – is ridiculous.
“This will and should be ignored by Israel. »
Hadja Lahbib, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
In a post on X, Lahbib said Belgium called for the immediate implementation of the court ruling.
“The violence and human suffering in Gaza must end. We call for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and two-state negotiations,” she said.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi
Safadi said the ICJ had once again denounced war crimes committed in Gaza.
“And once again, the Israeli government reacts with disdain to international law, refusing to heed the Court’s orders. The SC (Security Council) must assume its responsibility, put an end to Israel’s impunity and apply double standards in the application of international law,” he said in a statement on X.
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“Saudi Arabia welcomes the ruling by the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to immediately end the military offensive or any other actions in Rafah, in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. “
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“We welcome the interim decision… ordering Israel to end its attacks on Rafah in Gaza and to immediately open the Rafah border gate to humanitarian aid.
“No country in the world is above the law. We hope that all decisions taken by the Court will be quickly implemented by Israel. To ensure this, we call on the UN Security Council to do its part.”
War Crimes Prosecutor Reed Brody
Brody said the ICJ has mobilized to address the reality on the ground in the Gaza Strip.
“I’m really impressed, first of all, by the tenacity and perseverance of South Africa and their return to the court, and the court responded almost unanimously,” he told Tel Aviv Tribune.
Brody noted that South Africa had been asking since the beginning of the war against Gaza for an order for Israel to cease its military offensive, but the court had said it could not make such a decision because Hamas and Palestinian side were not present at the bar. .
“But that’s what they ultimately chose to do here, and it’s a testament to this court and what it does.” With the decision of the ICC prosecutor (to recommend arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials), it is a real legal double,” he added.
Human Rights Watch
The international human rights organization said the ICJ’s rulings show how bad the situation is in Gaza.
“The International Court of Justice’s order underscores the gravity of the situation facing Palestinians in Gaza,” said Balkees Jarrah, associate director of the group’s international justice program.
“This ruling opens the possibility of relief, but only if governments use their influence to pressure Israel to urgently implement the Court’s measures. »
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
The US-based civil rights group “applauded” the ICJ’s rulings.
“While (US President Joe) Biden’s administration stands alone in continuing to offer full support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza, the international community is increasingly opposing the massacre, forced starvation and cleansing ethnic violence that the Israeli far-right government is inflicting on Palestinian people,” CAIR said in a statement.
“Israel is clearly trying to make Gaza uninhabitable. We must prevent him from achieving this monstrous objective. President Biden must honor this important decision by immediately ending all military assistance to the Israeli genocide.”
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Bathe Eide
“I expect Israel to implement the measures that have been ordered. Respect for the Court and its functions, including the power to order interim measures, is essential to strengthening international law and the international legal order.