Israel remained defiant on Friday after the UN’s top court ruled that it should stop its operations in Gaza.
Israeli officials lashed out at the landmark ruling, claiming that the International Court of Justice had got it wrong.
“Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part,” national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with the foreign ministry spokesman.
Judges at the court ruled Israel must immediately halt its military offensive in Gaza.
The United Nations’ top court accepted arguments by South Africa for the enforcement of emergency provisional measures to protect Palestinians civilians.
The petition is part of a wider genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel, which judges have not yet ruled on.
“The state of Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical damage in the whole or in part,” presiding judge Nawaf Salam said on Friday.
The court also ordered Israel to open up the border crossing with Egypt and Gaza to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave, as well as provide access for investigators.
