The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah immediately.
The International Court of Justice stopped short of ordering a ceasefire and has no means to enforce its orders but the landmark emergency ruling on May 24 is another sign of Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation over its campaign in Gaza.
It came a day after Norway, Spain and Ireland said they would recognise a Palestinian state and in the same week as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the 7-month war in Gaza.
The ICJ ruling on May 24 also ordered Israel to allow access to Gaza for war crimes investigators, and to open the Rafah border crossing for crucial humanitarian aid.
The court had previously ordered Israel to allow full access to basic food and medical supplies in Gaza to head off famine.
Four days after the ruling on March 28, the Israeli military attacked an international aid convoy in Gaza killing seven workers.
And the issue of aid to Gaza has sparked conflict between right-wing activists and Jewish settlers opposed to the aid and peace activists trying to protect aid convoys.
ICJ orders halt to Israel assault on Rafah
Reaction to ICJ order
Text of ICJ ruling
ICJ orders Israel to unblock aid – March 28
Aid protesters and protectors
Norway, Spain and Ireland to recognise Palestinian state
International Criminal Court chief prosecutor seeks arrest warrants
Gaza journalists win world press freedom prize
