Since October 2023, Israel has proclaimed a “total siege on Gaza” killing thousands of innocent Palestinians by airstrikes and ground assaults. Currently, the death toll stands at 37,616 with 84,494 injured and more than 1.7 million displaced.[1] Rafah which was considered to be a safe haven for the millions of refugees has been invaded by Israeli forces and around 800,000 refugees have been forced to flee again to camps and shelters that are already overcrowded.[2] Rafah was the last place for the Palestinian refugees that connects the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Although continues efforts are being made for a permanent ceasefire through mediators, innocent Palestinians continue to suffer.
In December 2023, South Africa commenced legal proceedings against Israel’s “genocidal acts” and military interventions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The request for interim measures took place in mid-January 2024. On January 26, 2024, the ICJ handed down a significant ruling calling for Israel to execute or implement all necessary actions to hinder activities as per the Genocide Convention. The Court denied South Africa’s appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and it instructed Israel to authorize or enable access to the necessities and emergency aid in the Gaza Strip.[3] This preliminary judgement enforced legal obligations and required Israel to give an update within a month on actions taken to comply.
