War within the Middle East: Israel earlier than the International Court of Justice | EUROtoday

Tel Aviv/The Hague – Israel should at this time justify its controversial navy operation in Rafah within the south of the Gaza Strip earlier than the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The highest UN courtroom is listening to an software from South Africa.

Its authorities is insisting on Israel's fast withdrawal from the town of Rafah and unhindered entry for humanitarian help. The international ministers of 13 states, together with Germany, additionally warned in a letter of a complete offensive in Rafah and likewise known as for extra assist for the Palestinian inhabitants.

Israel continues Rafah offensive

Despite warnings from the US and different allies, Israel is continuous the assaults on Rafah, the place it says it desires to destroy one of many final strongholds of the Islamist Hamas. The authorities of the Jewish state invoked its proper to self-defense after terrorists from Hamas and different extremist teams attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 folks and taking 250 others hostage.

Israel's Foreign Ministry launched a press release saying South Africa was distorting actuality and presenting biased and false accusations to the courtroom.

According to the “Süddeutscher Zeitung”, the international ministers' letter to the Israeli chief diplomat Israel Katz requesting restraint was signed by the heads of departments of all G7 states except the USA, i.e. Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada. There are additionally Australia, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea and Sweden.

More than half one million folks fled Rafah

Just yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant introduced the deployment of further troops to Rafah. Hundreds of targets have already been hit there and several other Hamas tunnels have been destroyed. “This activity will be intensified,” Galant mentioned.

According to the UN, round 600,000 folks have already fled the town on the border with Egypt. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned: “The people there don't know what to do and no longer have any safe places to which they can flee. But the protection of the civilian population must have the highest priority. That is not apparent at the moment.”

Arab League requires UN peacekeeping mission for Gaza

The member states of the Arab League are actually calling for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission within the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. There have to be “international protection and peacekeeping troops” from the United Nations within the Palestinian territories till a two-state answer is carried out, mentioned the ultimate declaration of the league's summit in Bahrain.

The UN Security Council, which may challenge mandates for peace missions, should take duty. It was the primary common league summit since Israel's navy operation towards Hamas within the Gaza Strip started seven months in the past.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres additionally attended the assembly and once more known as on the opponents to agree on a ceasefire. “The war in Gaza is an open wound that threatens to infect the entire region,” warned Guterres. Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, emphasised that the “violent aggression” towards the Palestinians have to be stopped with joint energy.

Netanyahu on Gaza's future: No “Fatahstan after Hamastan”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected criticism from his protection minister that the federal government lacked a plan for who would govern the Gaza Strip after the struggle. During a go to to southern Israel, Netanyahu mentioned, in keeping with media stories, that he would have a dialog with Galant shortly.

Galant had beforehand mentioned {that a} political various have to be created to the rule of the Islamist Hamas within the Gaza Strip, towards which Israel has been taking navy motion since October. Asked whether or not this meant bringing the West Bank Palestinian Authority into Gaza, Netanyahu mentioned: “I am clearly against exchanging Hamastan for Fatahstan.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah motion is the main social gathering within the West Bank. It was defeated by Hamas in parliamentary elections in 2006, and a yr later Hamas violently seized sole management of the Gaza Strip. Since then, there have been de facto two separate Palestinian governments – one in Gaza and one within the West Bank.

US House of Representatives votes to ship ammunition to Israel

Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives has voted for a invoice that will power President Joe Biden to cease arms gross sales to Israel. The textual content was accepted with 208 votes from Republicans and 16 votes from Biden's Democrats, however is prone to fail within the Senate, the place the president's social gathering has the higher hand.

Biden had beforehand mentioned he would veto the invoice if it handed Congress. The textual content calls on his administration to expeditiously perform all arms transfers to Israel already accepted by Congress.

The US authorities is at present holding again an ammunition cargo due to Israel's actions in Rafah. She has repeatedly made it clear that she rejects a serious offensive by the Israeli military within the metropolis, which is overcrowded with internally displaced folks from different components of the Gaza Strip. Biden threatened Israel final week {that a} main floor offensive might have penalties for US arms provides.

dpa