London, 25 May 2024 (TDI): While, Israel is adamant, severe pressure and criticism after the ICJ ruling have been accounted by countries and representatives worldwide.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has welcomed the International Court of Justice’s “near-unanimous order” of another set of binding provisional measures.
“Israel is bound by the provisional measures, including halting its military offensive and any other action in Rafah, allowing all Commissions of Inquiry, fact-finding mission or other investigative body mandated by the United Nations, to enter Gaza.”
“Equally, all states are legally obliged to respect and ensure the implementation of these and previous provisional measures,” the Ministry mentioned in the official statement.
Therefore, “the State of Palestine calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities in this regard, namely protecting the rules-based order and standing of the Court by ensuring Israel’s immediate compliance,” it further underlined.
Nevertheless, it ensured that Palestine would work with all law-abiding states to serve these binding obligations.
“Palestine reiterates its gratitude to the people and government of South Africa for their moral and legal leadership in defending humanity and pushing for an end to the genocide,” the Ministry applauded.
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Lastly, “the existence of the Palestinian people and by extension the survival of an entire nation is under threat. The ICJ has spoken. States must listen and comply,” the Ministry urged the world community.
Belgium
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has urged for the enforcement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s ruling.
“The @CIJ_ICJ orders Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah. It calls for immediate implementation of the decision. The violence and human suffering in Gaza must stop. We call for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and negotiations for two States,” she emphasized.
Spain
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has demanded the implementation of Friday’s ruling announced by the ICJ.
“ICJ’s rulings, including the cessation of Israel’s offensive in Rafah, are mandatory. We demand its application. We also demand the release of the hostages and access to humanitarian aid. The suffering of Gazans and the violence must end,” he reiterated.
Turkey
“No country in the world is above the law. We expect all decisions taken by the Court to be quickly implemented by Israel,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed its support.
Egypt
“Egypt stresses that Israel bears full legal responsibility for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip as the occupying power,” the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized.
Canada
The Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland shared her expectations that all parties must follow international law.
EU
“We will have to choose between our support to international institutions of the rule of law or our support to Israel,” the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell highlighted the choices in his reply to the ruling.
Noteworthy, “ICJ orders are binding on the parties and they have to be fully effectively implemented,” he further clarified.
Amnesty International
“The ground incursion and the associated mass forced displacement it has caused, pose further irreparable risk to the rights of the Palestinian people protected under the Genocide Convention,” highlighted Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“The Israeli authorities must completely halt military operations in Rafah, as any ongoing military action could constitute an underlying act of genocide,” the Director pinpointed.
UN Special Rapporteur
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories proclaimed that “UN member states should impose sanctions on Israel and suspend diplomatic relations until it complies with the International Court of Justice’s ruling to cease the Rafah ground offensive.”
UK
However, the UK, one of the staunchest allies of Israel, criticized the World Court orders.
“The reason there isn’t a pause in the fighting is because Hamas turned down a very generous hostage deal from Israel. The intervention of these courts – including the ICJ today – will strengthen the view of Hamas that they can hold on to hostages and stay in Gaza,” a UK foreign ministry spokesperson said late Friday.
“And if that happens there won’t be either peace or a two-state solution,” the spokesperson concluded.
