The ICJ ruling comes after the South African government made an urgent appeal to assess Israel’s recent decision to expand its military presence in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, that serves as a shelter for thousands of Palestinians displaced by the Zionist government’s military actions.

The court reaffirmed our view that the dangerous situation requires the immediate and effective implementation of the interim measures indicated by the Court in its Order of 26 January 2024, which are applicable throughout the Gaza Strip, and has clarified that this includes Rafah, the presidency’s statement underlines.

According to the release, the court accepted that Israel’s planned raids into Rafah would make what is already a humanitarian disaster even more dangerous.

The court decision noted that “the most recent developments in the Gaza Strip, and in Rafah in particular,” would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with incalculable regional consequences, the document adds.

Consequently, the Presidency stressed, any decision by the Israeli government to engage in military activities against the Palestinians in the current circumstances is a violation of the order of the International Court of Justice.

In the statement, the Executive assured that South Africa would continue to use existing channels, such as the UN Security Council to ensure the full and effective implementation of the existing provisional measures issued by the ICJ.

mh/oda/mv