Guterres reminds Israel that the ICJ’s decision to stop the offensive on Rafah is “binding”

May 24. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, recalled this Friday that the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which requires Israel to immediately stop its offensive on Rafá, in the south of the Gaza Strip, is ” binding”.

“The secretary general recalls that, in accordance with the charter and statute of the court, the decisions of the court are binding and trusts that the parties will duly comply with the order,” he said in a statement in which he says “take note ” of the opinion.

Guterres has also stressed that, in accordance with the statute of the ICJ, “he will transmit as soon as possible to the UN Security Council the notification of the provisional measures ordered by the court.”

The ICJ ruled this Friday on the additional measures requested by South Africa, which has accused Israel of ignoring previous measures ordered by the UN court to prevent a genocide in Gaza, and of further worsening the humanitarian situation in the enclave. by launching a new offensive on Rafá, which has caused a new forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

In its new ruling, the court not only reaffirms the precautionary measures it issued in January and March to prevent an extermination in Gaza, but also calls on Israel to “immediately suspend its military offensive and any other action in the Rafah governorate.” that could inflict on the Palestinian population living conditions that could lead to their physical destruction, whether total or partial.

The court also requires Israel to “keep open the Rafah crossing,” which the Palestinian side assumed control at the beginning of the month “for the large-scale and unrestricted supply of humanitarian assistance.”

Furthermore, the court urges Israel to take “effective measures” to guarantee “unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip” to “any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission or investigative body commissioned by the competent UN bodies to investigate accusations of genocide.”

Finally, the ICJ gives Israel one month from today to deliver a report that includes all the measures it must adopt to comply with this new ruling, a document that will subsequently be evaluated by the court.

In response, Israel has assured that it has not and will not carry out military operations that “could lead to the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population,” in whole or in part,” and has insisted that it is promoting a “just war.”

“Israel does this in accordance with its right to defend its territory and its citizens, while maintaining its moral values ​​and International Law and International Humanitarian Law,” Israeli authorities said in a joint statement.

At the same time, Israel has indicated that they will continue their “efforts” to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip and that they will act in accordance with the law to reduce damage to the civilian population to the extent possible.