Attack on Rafah: Hearing Begins in Top Court of UN Against Israel

• By Thetripurapost Web Desk, New York
• May 16, 2024
• 116

The UN's top court began hearing Thursday on South Africa's request to halt Israel's military operation in Gaza's southern city of Rafah. 

This hearing will take place for two days. This is the fourth time that South Africa has requested emergency measures from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

South Africa has moved the court, alleging that Israel's military actions in the war with Hamas in Gaza amount to genocide.

The new petition said previous orders from the Hague- based court were not enough to stop the "barbaric military attack on the only refuge for the people of Gaza". 

South Africa has said that the situation in the war-torn region is continuously worsening. "Israel's genocide continues apace and has entered a new and horrifying phase," said Vusimuzi Madonsela, South Africa's ambassador to the Netherlands.

South Africa has urged the court to take measures including directing Israel to withdraw from Rafah and ensuring unhindered access to the Gaza Strip for UN officials, humanitarian organizations and journalists. 

During hearings earlier this year, Israel strongly denied committing genocide in Gaza and said it made every effort to protect civilians and was only targeting Hamas militants.

The war began on October 7 last year with a Hamas attack in southern Israel in which Palestinian terrorists killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage. 

At the same time, Gaza's Health Ministry says that more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.