South Africa is now urging the UN International Court of Justice to investigate Israel's military operations in Rafah; the Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian fireman extinguishes the fire of a burning uninhabited building in the eastern Gaza City neighbourhood of Al-Shajayia that was struck by an Israeli warplane missile, 20 October 2003.
South African government officials issued an "urgent request" with ICJ to consider that the activities of the Israel Defense Forces in Rafah violate the provisional orders handed down in January.
What they exactly want is for ICJ to intervene in the military operations that Israel recently announced. But, will the UN International Court of Justice listen?
South Africa Urges UN To Investigate Israel's Operations in Rafah
According to Politico's latest report, South Africa's Presidency explained that Rafah is the " last refuge for surviving people in Gaza."
Because of this, officials argue that it is required for the UN International Court of Justice to use its power to stop "further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza."
The South African government wants ICJ to weigh if Israel's ground offensive in Rafah could breach the rights of Gazan residents, as reported by The Associated Press.
Recently, ICJ issued six orders after South Africa lodged a case against Israel, accusing it of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Among these orders is to require Israel to prevent Palestinian civilian deaths and the destruction of Gaza.
However, the UN International Court of Justice didn't include a cease-fire order.
"The South African government said it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah," said South Africa's Presidency.
"This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court's Order of 26 January 2024," it added.
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Israel's Military Assault Plan in Rafah
A picture taken from Rafah shows flares amids smoke over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli strikes, on December 12, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Previously, the Israel Defense Forces announced that it is preparing a military assault in Rafah, where four largely intact Hamas battalions are allegedly located.
Reports stated that IDF troops already started their airstrikes and other military activities against the Palestinian terrorist organization.
Israeli officials claimed that senior Hamas leaders are located in Rafah or are present below the Gaza city; in the military tunnel systems of Hamas.
They added that these senior Hamas leaders could be holding Israeli hostages in Rafah. As of writing, the Israeli Foreign Ministry hasn't commented regarding the latest petition filed by the South African government against its operations in the southern Gaza city.
If you want to learn more details about Israel's planned military operations in Rafah and South Africa's urgent request to ICJ, you can click here.
Related Article: Rafah Under Fire as Ceasefire Talks Begin in Cairo
