The Israeli army continued its operations in Rafah on Saturday, according to three Israeli officials, a day after the world’s highest court appeared. order Israel to cease its military campaign “immediately” in the southern Gaza city, amid growing international outcry over the offensive.
Officials did not specify where exactly in the city their forces were striking and fighting. An official said the army continued to advance slowly, but cautioned that it was too early to determine how Israel would ultimately respond to the court order, as it takes time for a ground military operation to change direction. cap. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Palestinian media reported that an Israeli strike killed one person in central Rafah and that fighting was also taking place in the city’s eastern suburbs. Strikes were also reported in other parts of the territory, and the Israeli army confirmed that it was also continuing operations in Jabaliya, northern Gaza.
The International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to suspend its military offensive and “any other action” in Rafah that could totally or partially destroy the Palestinian population there. Some court judges said Israel could still carry out certain military operations in Rafah under the terms of their ruling.
The court has few effective means to enforce its order, but the ruling adds to a growing list of measures against Israel which undermined its international reputation.
Immediately after the decision, the Israeli government suggested it would continue the fight in Rafah, defying a growing group of international partners who believe Israel has gone too far. He said in a written response that his army “has not taken and will not take” actions that could lead to the destruction of the Palestinian population in Rafah – effectively saying the court’s decision has no impact on the Israeli offensive.
The Israeli offensive in Rafah has so far displaced more than 800,000 people, most of whom had already been displaced from other parts of Gaza and found themselves in miserable conditions in their new encampments. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to bombard other areas of the enclave, with fighting particularly intense in Jabaliya, where Israel believes Hamas is trying to regroup.
At a news conference Friday after the decision, a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the U.N. chief “has confidence” that Israel will “duly comply” with the decision. court order. The spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, then added that countries have “the responsibility to implement and respect” the Court’s decisions.
The court’s decision came as officials from Israel, the United States and Qatar – mediator between Israel and Hamas – met in Paris to try to revive efforts to establish a ceasefire. Negotiations failed earlier in the monthmainly because Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire while Israel wants to continue the war after a brief exchange of captives.
