Top UN Court Orders Israel to ‘Immediately Halt’ Military Operation in Gaza

Al Jazeera

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel on Friday to immediately stop their operations in Rafah, located in the southern part of Gaza. The United Nations’ top court stopped short of asking for a total ceasefire.

The Associated Press reported that it was “unlikely” that Israel would comply with the order, which came the same week that the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several leaders of the Hamas terrorist group.  Ireland, Norway, and Spain also announced this week that they would officially recognize a Palestinian state.

The ICJ: “Israel must immediately halt its military offensive…” pic.twitter.com/uLGPqBTpu7

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) May 24, 2024

Axios explained:

It’s the court’s first order about the war in Gaza, where more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials.

The order from the court, which began discussing the matter in January, significantly increases international pressure on Israel to stop the latest fighting in Gaza that began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage.

The decision is likely to prompt another effort to pass a resolution at the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. The Biden administration will be pressed not to veto a new resolution.

President Joe Biden previously announced that the United States would not support Israeli military operations in Rafah, the first red line drawn on the administration’s support of its long-time ally.

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