THE International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to stop its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

ICJ president Nawaf Salam said, “The state of Israel shall, in conformity with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in view of the worsening conditions of life in the Rafah governorate, 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 destruction in whole or in part.”

The order is binding on Israel, but experts believe Israel is unlikely to comply with it.

The international community must now call upon the UN Security Council to implement the ICJ order. – May 25, 2024.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.