The International Court of Justice, the supreme judicial body of the United Nations, on May 24 ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
If Israel fails to fulfill its obligation as a U.N. member, the nation could not only lose the confidence of the rest of the world but also harm the rule of law, the foundation of world order.
The country should immediately halt its military actions in Gaza and return to peace talks.
More than 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the battles that erupted between the Hamas Islamist militant group and Israeli armed forces in October.
Israel on May 7 opened a ground offensive in Rafah, where about 1.5 million people were taking refuge from the fighting.
More than 800,000 people have since been displaced from Rafah, even though Israeli officials have insisted the operation there is “limited.”
The peace talks for the liberation of hostages held by Hamas have also remained suspended since the offensive was opened.
This is the first time the ICJ has ordered a halt to the military offensive, even though the world court had called on Israel earlier to take “all measures” to prevent genocide. That decision should not be taken lightly.
The ICJ emphasized, by way of rationale, that the humanitarian situation in Gaza “is now to be characterized as disastrous.” That is tantamount to acknowledging that Israel has continued unlawfully to ignore the earlier ICJ decision.
An ICJ order is legally binding and its nonfulfillment constitutes a violation of international law. No means are available, however, for enforcing an ICJ order that goes unobeyed.
One senior Israeli government official has said in a statement that his country will continue fighting.
If the issue of refusal of the ICJ order were to be taken to the U.N. Security Council in the months to come, a continued U.S. stance in support of Israel would seriously hurt the rule of law, an ideal espoused in the U.N. Charter.
U.S. President Joe Biden has reiterated that he is opposed to a large-scale ground operation in Rafah.
Washington should remain consistent in its stance against the invasion of Rafah, which has only been expanded without serious debate, and should step up the pressure it applies on Israel, including by withholding arms supplies.
Criticism of Israel’s excessive military retaliation, which goes against international humanitarian law, has been rising by the day.
Earlier this month, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution to back Palestine’s U.N. membership bid, with 143 votes in favor and only nine opposed. Norway, Ireland and Spain said subsequently that they will soon recognize Palestine as a state.
By way of counterargument, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has said, among other things, that recognition of a Palestinian state is a “reward for terrorism.” His arguments, however, don’t hold water.
Israel should not forget that the country’s diplomatic isolation has been exacerbated precisely by its own self-righteous stance that denies the establishment of a Palestinian state and makes light of the lives of Palestinians.
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 26
EDITORIAL: Israel should obey ICJ order to halt attack on Palestine’s Rafah
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27.05.2024
The International Court of Justice, the supreme judicial body of the United Nations, on May 24 ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
If Israel fails to fulfill its obligation as a U.N. member, the nation could not only lose the confidence of the rest of the world but also harm the rule of law, the foundation of world order.
The country should immediately halt its military actions in Gaza and return to peace talks.
More than 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the battles that erupted between the Hamas Islamist militant group and Israeli armed forces in October.
Israel on May 7 opened a ground offensive in Rafah, where about 1.5 million people were taking refuge from the fighting.
More than 800,000 people have since been........
© The Asahi Shimbun
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