Rafah
The most recent ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requires the Israeli occupation to stop military attacks on the Rafah Governorate in southern Gaza and to open the Rafah border crossing to allow for the flow of people and the delivery of humanitarian supplies. The occupation persists in violating these rulings. As part of a comprehensive case accusing Tel Aviv of perpetrating acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must immediately cease its attack on Rafah City. The decision was made at the request of South Africa. "According to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, any additional action in Rafah could lead to partial or complete destruction," the ruling read by the court's president, Lebanese judge Nawaf Salam, said. The ground offensive in Rafah, which started on May 7, was assessed by the court to be a "serious development that exacerbates the suffering of the population," and it was noted that Israel "has not done enough to ensure the safety and security of the displaced." Judge Salam stated that the situation calls for a reversal of the court's ruling from March 28th, which was the second ruling in the case and required Israel to act quickly to guarantee the delivery of humanitarian goods to Gaza.
Within 48 hours after the International Court of Justice's ruling on Friday, May 24th, scores of Israeli bombings on Rafah were confirmed. Furthermore, from the beginning of the incursion on May 7, reports of scores of artillery rounds and nonstop gunfire have been made in the places where Israeli machinery has extended its intrusions into major portions of the city, spreading to central and western sectors, particularly along the border strip. Many people were killed and injured as a result of these attacks.
At the same time as the court hearing to decide on South Africa's appeal, the criminal Israeli army escalated its bombing on central Rafah, including the Shaboura refugee camp. As soon as the session ended, Israel intensified its bombardment, death, and devastation, clearly signaling that it rejected the court's ruling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, together with his ministers, swiftly attacked the court's decision and declared their opinion. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir invoked religious statements that denigrate non-Jews when he said, "Our future is not dependent on what others say, but on what we Jews do." In response to the court's ruling, which he called "anti-Semitic," he said that it is proper to "occupy Rafah and increase military pressure on Hamas," as reported by Israel's Channel 12.
Under all international institutions and conventions, these ceaseless onslaught and massacres are considered war crimes. Now that even the tents are being bombarded in front of the world, where will the people who ran into them go?