Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Gaza despite ICJ Ruling

Massive attacks were reported in Rafah, particularly in its eastern and central parts, coinciding with the court session yesterday.

The Israeli military stated that nine bombs were dropped on a single area in the city, indicating a possible targeted assassination attempt.

The military incursion has also expanded to the western part and surrounding areas, including the Shaboura refugee camp and Kuwaiti Hospital.

These locations have been bombed in the past months, causing severe damage to residential homes and public facilities, including roads leading to the hospital.

Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, affirmed Israel's commitment to continue what he called a "just and necessary war" and to secure the return of captives.

Far-right ministers, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, insisted that the only solution is to invade and occupy Rafah.

The Elders, a group of world leaders, stated that "no country is above the law" and criticized Israel's "unlawful approach" to its war on Gaza, following the ICJ's directive to halt military operations in Rafah.

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, a member of the Elders and former UN human rights commissioner, emphasized that states supplying weapons to Israel have a "particular responsibility to ensure they are not complicit in any violation of the Court’s order."

“The ICJ has today ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah to protect Palestinians in Gaza who are facing inhumane, catastrophic conditions that threaten their lives,” al-Hussein stated.

“Israel has a legal obligation to implement all the ICJ’s provisional measures in full,” he added.

EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called on Israel to implement ICJ’s ruling.

In a post on X, he reminded of the elements of the ruling and said: “ICJ orders are binding on the Parties and they have to be fully and effectively implemented.”

Meanwhile, an Israeli military strike has targeted a family home in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, killing a woman and injuring other people.

Numerous other neighborhoods of Gaza City have come under heavy artillery shelling, according to the Wafa news agency, including Sheikh Ajlin, Tal al-Hawa and Zeitoun.

Over the past week, the UNRWA has received reports of numerous Israeli attacks on its shelters that have killed internally displaced people.

In one instance reported on May 22, a UN school in Jabalia was besieged by Israeli forces and shelled, causing an undetermined number of casualties.

In another case, reported on May 17, two UNRWA sanitation and maintenance offices were found to have been “completely destroyed” by Israeli air strikes.

Since Israel’s war on Gaza began, the UNRWA has seen 174 of its facilities damaged by attacks. At least 450 displaced people have been killed and 1,472 injured inside these facilities, it said.

At least 35,857 people killed and 80,293 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7.