CAPE TOWN: South Africa has formally approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to evaluate Israel’s proposed extension of its military offensive into the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reports.
According to a statement released by South Africa’s presidency, the government has expressed grave concerns regarding Israel’s announced military offensive against Rafah. The statement highlighted South Africa’s apprehensions that the offensive, if carried out, would lead to further large-scale casualties, injuries, and destruction.
The presidency’s statement emphasized that such actions by Israel would constitute serious violations of both the Genocide Convention and the ICJ’s previous order issued on January 26.
The South African Government has made an urgent request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether the decision announced by Israel to extend its military operations in Rafah, which is the last refuge for surviving people in Gaza, requires that the court uses…
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) February 13, 2024
The request submitted by South Africa to the ICJ seeks consideration of whether additional emergency measures are necessary to safeguard the rights of Palestinians amidst the escalating conflict.
However, the ICJ based in The Hague refrained from commenting on whether it had received the request from South Africa.
Israel is facing escalating international pressure to agree to a ceasefire with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as it prepares for a potential invasion in the densely populated southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are trapped.
CIA Director William Burns engaged in a new round of talks in Cairo on Tuesday with Mossad Chief David Barnea regarding a Qatari-brokered ceasefire proposal. The initiative aims to temporarily halt Israeli bombardment in exchange for the Palestinian group releasing hostages. The high-level meeting, which also involved the Qatari Prime Minister and Egyptian officials, underscores the intensified mediation efforts between the conflicting parties.
US, UN Warn Israel Against Ground Attack in Rafah
The urgency for a ceasefire intensified after both the United States and the United Nations cautioned Israel against launching a ground offensive into Rafah without a comprehensive plan to safeguard Palestinian civilians. Many displaced Palestinians in Rafah expressed their despair, lamenting the continuous Israeli bombardment and increasing civilian casualties.
US President Joe Biden emphasized the need to protect civilians in Rafah during talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. King Abdullah advocated for a lasting ceasefire to prevent another humanitarian catastrophe, echoing concerns raised by other countries such as China, Germany, and Norway.
Despite rejecting the Palestinian group’s terms for a truce last week, Israel conducted a pre-dawn raid in Rafah on Monday, resulting in casualties, which sparked international outcry.
The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza further exacerbates concerns, with over half of its 2.4 million residents seeking refuge in Rafah, facing shortages of essential supplies and outbreaks of diseases.
