ICJ orders Israel to immediately halt military operations in Rafah

New Delhi : The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to immediately halt all military operations which are being carried out in the Southern Gaza city of Rafah. 

Israel is facing worldwide criticism for the way of conduct in the war in Gaza, particularly when the focus shifted to Rafah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also under immense pressure to look into the ways to end this war, which was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people, most civilians, and taking some 250 captive.

Soon after the attacks, thousands of locals in Israel came to roads and carried out demonstrations asking the government to reach to a deal and save the hostages. Some feared that the delay can lead to several lost lives.

It must be noted that the Internation Court of Justice may have ordered Israel to halt the military operations, but it does not have its own police force to enforce the orders. For instance, a similar order was issued when Russia had invaded Ukraine in 2022 and the order was ignored by the predecessor.

Israel has already hinted that they will not follow the order as it claimed that "no power on earth can stop the nation from saving its citizens."

Immediately after the ruling, Netanyahu announced that he would hold a special ministerial meeting to decide how to respond. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, derided the decision.