International Court of Justice rejects new South African request against Israel. South Africa asked the United Nations' highest judicial body to examine Israel's announcement of a major offensive on Rafah.
Pretoria wanted the Hague Court to oppose “a further violation of rights” if necessary. The ICJ ruled this Friday that the Jewish state had to respect the measures already ordered. The Court's rulings are binding and cannot be appealed, but it has no means of enforcing its decisions. The judges did not comment at this stage on the question of whether or not Israel is actually committing genocide, nevertheless ordered it to prevent such acts.