Israel ignores ICJ ruling, vows to continue Rafah operation

Israel has ignored International Court of Justice ruling and vowed to continue the Rafah operation, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said.

The statement from the top minister came just hours after ICJ ordered to halt the Rafah operation and open the border crossing for humanitarian assistance.

“The State of Israel is committed to continue fighting to return its hostages and promise the security of its citizens – wherever and whenever necessary – including in Rafah,” Gantz was quoted by Al Jazeera.

Despite the ruling, Israel is firmly committed to move into Rafah to complete its mission of defeating Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made a formal statement after the international court order, but analysts fear that it will continue to violate the ICJ’s order.

“Israel was in a war for its existence, and stopping the invasion of Rafah was akin to demanding Israel cease to exist,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X.

He warned that stopping the assault meant the “enemy will reach the beds of our children and women throughout the country.” He then tweeted that “history will judge who stood by the Nazis of Hamas and ISIS [ISIL].”

On the other hand, Hamas welcomed the court’s rulings saying that it expect the court to eventually issue an order for Israel to stop its war on the entire besieged strip.

“What is happening in Jabalia and other governorates of the Strip is no less criminal and dangerous than what is happening in Rafah.”

“We call on the international community and the United Nations to pressure the occupation to immediately comply with this decision and to seriously and genuinely proceed in translating all UN resolutions that force the Zionist occupation army to stop the genocide it has been committing against our people for more than seven months.”