“This submission…takes into account the worsening severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and the continued perpetration of systematic acts against the Palestinian people, including direct targeting of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. “We are urging Palestinians to evacuate,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement explaining the decision.
South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel in late December 2023, alleging that Israel breached its obligations under the Genocide Convention when it waged the war on Gaza.
In a preliminary judgment in January, the ICJ ruled that Israel was plausibly committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and ordered it to “take all possible steps” to avert it.
In a statement, Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the interim measures issued by the ICJ require Israel to “comply with its obligations as an occupying power and ensure access to humanitarian aid and relief supplies in a manner that meets the needs of the Palestinian people.” I asked them to implement it.” It's the Gaza Strip. ”
Israel cut off aid when it seized the Rafah border crossing, making it more difficult for Gazans to access necessities such as food and fuel, but on Sunday Israel opened a new checkpoint in the north to provide aid. announced that it was open.
Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reiterated its call on the UN Security Council and the international community to take action to stop violations in the Gaza Strip and Israel's attack on Rafah.
“Tel Aviv is forcing Palestinians to participate in its murderous game show in disregard of international law and basic human decency.”
Egypt becomes the third country after Colombia and Turkey to request to join South Africa's case. But the request is of particular importance to Israel, Alon Riel, former director of Israel's Foreign Ministry, told Al Jazeera. Riel said Egypt has been a “cornerstone” of Israel's position in the Middle East since the two countries signed a treaty in 1979.
“With Egypt joining South Africa in The Hague, this is a real diplomatic blow that Israel will have to take seriously,” Riel said. “Israel…must listen to the voices of the world, not just Israeli public opinion demanding revenge.”
Israel's devastating offensive against Gaza began on October 7 in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israel that left around 1,100 people dead and around 250 hostages taken. Before that attack, Israel had been blockading Gaza for 16 years.
Egypt's actions on Sunday were accompanied by warnings and expressions of alarm from humanitarian workers, diplomats and journalists as Israel escalated its operations in Gaza over the weekend.
“Over the past 48 hours, Israel has stepped up its offensive in Gaza, ordering Palestinians in the south to move north and those in the north to move south,” said Jeremy Scahill, journalist and co-founder of The Intercept. . I have written on social media Sunday. “Tel Aviv is forcing Palestinians to participate in its murderous game show in disregard of international law and basic human decency.”
UNRWA on Saturday Posted Photos of a bomb-damaged school in Khan Yunis, where displaced families have returned following new evacuation orders.
“Classrooms have been set on fire, walls have been blown away and debris is everywhere,” UNRWA said. “This situation is unfolding with the world watching. Enough is enough.”
Commenting on the images, UNRWA Executive Director Philippe Lazzarini said: I have written“Since the war began, most people in Gaza have moved multiple times, on average once a month. They desperately sought safety but could not find it. Bombed UNRWA shelters Some people have no choice but to stay.”
“The 'safe zone' claim is false and misleading,” Lazzarini continued. “There is no safe place in Gaza. That's right.”
“An all-out attack on Rafah is not possible,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Sunday.
“The recent evacuation orders, let alone full-scale attacks in areas with high concentrations of civilians, can be reconciled with the binding requirements of international humanitarian law and the two sets of binding interim measures ordered. “It's hard to believe that' was determined by the International Court of Justice,'' Turk said.
However, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) claimed On Sunday, he said on social media that Israel's actions in Rafah were already “a large-scale military attack and not a limited operation as described by Israel.”
The group said Israel has killed at least 116 people, including 22 women and 38 children, since the IDF entered Rafah a week ago.
In addition to stepping up operations in Rafah, the IDF is stepping up attacks on parts of northern Gaza, including Jabalaya, the largest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
Al Jazeera journalist Tarek Abu Azizm reported that “witnesses on the ground in populated areas have told us that military tanks are surrounding shelters and residential buildings.”
PCHR concluded: “In short, Israel continues unabated its genocidal military campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire. This genocide must end now.” .
