War in Gaza | “Israel will not change course” after International Court of Justice order to halt its military offensive in Rafah: Analysis by BBC’s Paul Adams
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- Author, Paul Adams
- Role, BBC News, diplomatic correspondent
An order to halt a military operation it sees as necessary to defeat Hamas and secure the release of the hostages was something Israel wanted to avoid.
However, there are no immediate signs that the Israeli government will change its stance following Friday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Their tanks are approaching the centre of Rafah and, as the verdict was being read, a series of air strikes left a huge black cloud over the city.
Some hard-line allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reacted angrily, Accusing the court of anti-Semitism and siding with Hamas.
Former government spokesman, Ilon Levy, pointed out that the presiding judge, Nawaf Salam, was Lebanese and “would not be able to return home safely if he pronounced the sentence in the wrong direction.”
For their part, for Netanyahu’s critics, the decision is another sign of an escalating situation International isolation of Israel,
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Let’s consider the most recent signs:
- Possibility of an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and his defense minister from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- European countries are preparing to recognize the State of Palestine.
- There is growing evidence that Joe Biden’s administration is losing patience with Israel’s refusal to participate in a meaningful plan for the Strip’s future.
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on deaf ears
Israel will be disappointed that its arguments did not influence the ICJ judges’ decision.
The Netanyahu government assured that it had made every effort Make sure civilians are out of harm’s way before sending troops into Rafah,
And he said they were ensuring that food and other vital supplies reached Gaza.
There are elements of truth in both arguments. Over 800,000 civilians have left Rafah,
And while it’s true that little aid has arrived in the southern Gaza Strip since the Rafah offensive began nearly three weeks ago, Israel has allowed hundreds of trucks carrying commercial goods to enter, meaning food is available (if not necessarily affordable) in some parts of the territory.
Despite repeated warnings, especially in the north, famine has not yet begun.
If anything, the situation in the north may have improved somewhat as additional crossing points have opened.
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But the court was not impressed by this data and held that it represented a new wave of mass displacement Another major threat to the lives and well-being of the Palestinian population and so new measures were called for.
South Africa, which filed the suit against Israel, argued that Rafah represents the “last line of defense” for the Gaza Strip.
The African country’s representation said that if Rafah suffered the same fate as other cities in the region, the Palestinian population could suffer. more irreparable damage,
And this is what the court has tried to stop.
Israel, meanwhile, denies that this was the aim of its operation in the south and appears keen to press ahead.
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