Israel-Palestine Escalation
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Egypt Welcomes ICJ Ruling Ordering Israel to Stop Offensive in Rafah, Foreign Ministry Says

© AP Photo / Patrick PostA view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, on Jan. 26, 2024.
A view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, on Jan. 26, 2024. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 25.05.2024
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CAIRO (Sputnik) - Egypt welcomes the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on new provisional measures regarding Israel, including the order to stop its military operation in the southern Gaza сity of Rafah, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Earlier in the day, ICJ President Nawaf Salam said that Israel must stop its military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. It also must ensure unimpeded access to the enclave for the missions that are investigating the allegations of genocide, as well as humanitarian aid, the judge added.
"The Arab Republic of Egypt welcomes the ICJ ruling on additional provisional measures regarding Israel, demanding an immediate stop to Israeli military operations and any other actions in the Palestinian city of Rafah," the ministry said in a statement.
Israel bears full legal responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, it added.
Saudi Arabia also welcomed the ruling as "a positive step towards the moral and legal rights of the Palestinian people," the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
Riyadh reiterated its call on the international community "to assume its responsibilities to stop all forms of aggression against the Palestinian people."
The decision of the ICJ was welcomed by the Turkish Foreign Ministry as well, and it anticipates Israel's prompt compliance with the ruling.
"No country in the world is above the law. We expect Israel to comply immediately with all ICJ rulings. In this regard, we call on the UN Security Council to do its part," the ministry said in a statement.
The Turkish justice minister Yilmaz Tunc, however, believed that the ruling alone is not enough measure to stop Israeli attacks in Rafah.
"The countries and international organizations which believe in democracy and human rights must act to guarantee that Israel implements these decisions," Tunc said on X.
The minister added that Turkey will continue to fight for Israeli officials to be brought to justice and receive the punishment they deserve after Tel Aviv's actions led to the deaths of more than 36,000 people in 8 months.
Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called on the UN Security Council to put an end to "Israel's impunity."
"Once again, the ICJ exposes Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. And once again, the Israeli Govt reacts with disdain to Int’l law, refusing to heed the Court’s orders. The SC [UN Security Council] must shoulder its responsibility, put an end to Israel’s impunity & to double standards in enforcing Int’l law," Safadi wrote on X.
Israel sent troops into Rafah on May 7, seven months after an attack by Palestinian movement Hamas on Israeli territory unleashed the worst escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip in decades. Israel's war cabinet vowed to expand the operation in Rafah until it accomplished its declared goal of eliminating all Hamas fighters.
South Africa filed a lawsuit with the ICJ against Israel over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip on December 29, 2023. On January 26, the ICJ ruled provisional measures ordering Israel to take urgent steps to prevent acts of genocide and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave. At the same time, the ICJ did not order an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In early March, the African nation went back to the ICJ to call for additional provisional measures against Israel that would address widespread starvation among Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
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