International Court of Justice in The Hague obliged Israel to immediately stop its military offensive in the city of Rafah. There was no talk of a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, reports Associated Press
Immediately after the decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would hold a special meeting with ministers to determine further actions. Yair Lapid, the leader of the Israeli opposition, ridiculed the court's decision.
"The fact that the International Court of Justice did not even directly link the end of the military operation in Rafah to the release of hostages and Israel's right to defend itself against terror is pathetic moral failure", — he said.
Rafah is in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt, and more than 1 million people have taken refuge there in recent months after fleeing fighting in other parts of the strip. Many of them live in overcrowded tent camps.
At the same time, Israel began evacuation notices two weeks before Israeli troops entered Rafah.
Criticism of Israel's actions in the war in the strip Gaza is growing, especially after the IDF launched an operation in Rafah. This week alone, three European countries – Ireland, Norway and Spain – announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants for Israeli leaders as well as Hamas officials.
Netanyahu is also under intense domestic pressure to end the war that began in response to the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants, killing 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and capturing about 250 people.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga