In an decisive development, the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, on Friday demanded Israel to suspend its military operations in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The court, however, refrained from directing a complete cease-fire throughout Gaza.
The ruling, passed with a majority vote of 13-2 by the judges at The Hague, mandated Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive”, and any other action within the Rafah Governorate that has potential to impose on the Palestinian group in Gaza a lifestyle that might lead to their physical obliteration, as a whole or in portions. The decision is drawn keeping in view Israel’s responsibilities under the terms of the Geneva Convention.
Critical to note here, however, is the fact that the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice bears binding weight on the conflicting parties but does not wield power to enforce these rulings.
More comprehensive details about this ruling can be found in the original examination at Law.com.