Presiding Judge Nawaf Salam underscored the situation in Gaza “disastrous” and urged Israel to open the Rafah crossing for aid|@CIJ_ICJ|X|X
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to immediately cease its military operation in Rafah, Gaza, citing imminent danger to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the area—the ruling is the third such order this year.
President of the top UN court, Judge Nawaf Salam, called the situation disastrous and urged Israel to open the Rafah crossing for aid.
However, the court has no means of enforcing the orders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure to end the conflict, rebuffed the ruling and asserted its inherent right to self-defense.
Criticism mounts as three European countries will recognize a Palestine state, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeks arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders for war crimes in Gaza and Israel.