ICJ orders Israel to halt Rafah military offensive, open crossing for aid
New Delhi: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a directive to Israel, demanding an immediate cessation of its military offensive in Rafah and the opening of the Rafah crossing to facilitate humanitarian aid.
Nawaf Salam, the President of the ICJ, announced the court's order, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The court's order, originally issued on January 26, 2024, and reiterated on March 28, underscored the severe risk of further deterioration in Gaza's humanitarian situation. Since the March order, the situation has only worsened.
The ICJ's ruling saw 13 judges vote in favor of implementing provisional measures outlined in the January and March orders, while two judges dissented. The court's decision mandates Israel to halt its Rafah military operations and ensure the Rafah crossing is opened for the unhindered delivery of essential services and humanitarian aid.
Moreover, the ICJ ordered Israel to guarantee unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip for any United Nations-mandated commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission, or investigative body tasked with investigating allegations of genocide.
The court stated, "Effective measures must be taken to ensure the unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip for any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission, or other investigative body mandated by competent organs of the United Nations to investigate allegations of genocide."
Israel is required to submit a report detailing the implementation of these orders within one month.
The judges who voted in favor of the measures include President Nawaf Salam, and Judges Abraham, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant, Gómez Robledo, Cleveland, Aurescu, and Tladi. Vice-President Sebutinde and Judge ad hoc Barak dissented.
These orders stem from a request by South Africa on May 10 for provisional measures in the case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.
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'Unjust' war imposed on Iran should end: Omar
Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the "unjust" war imposed on the people of Iran should end and peace should prevail, asserting that the US and Israel do not get to decide the leadership of the country.
He said it is for the people of Iran to decide about their leadership.
"At the end of the day, what we want is peace. We want this unjust war that has been imposed on the people of Iran to stop. As I have said time and again, America and Israel don't get to decide who the leader of Iran is. Israel and the US don't get to decide who the Supreme Leader is," Abdullah told reporters here.
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The chief minister said Iran's assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not just the leader of Iran, "he was an acknowledged religious leader for the entire Muslim Ummah".
"So, this should not be seen as a conflict with Iran; it has far wider implications," he added.
Abdullah welcomed the Indian ships being allowed to carry fuel through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Anything that allows us to keep our prices low is a good thing, whether that means buying oil from Russia or being able to transport our gas and fuel supplies through the strait, which otherwise is closed for everybody else. It is good for us," he said.
However, he added that while India will benefit from the move, "ultimately we will benefit when peace prevails. And we want this unjust war to end".
