Israel-Gaza live updates: UN court rules Israel must stop Rafah operation

The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel must immediately cease its military operations in Rafah, citing “an immediate risk to the Palestinian people.”

The vote was 16-2, with Israel one of the votes against the decision. The other country to vote against the decision was Uganda.

The U.N. court has no way of enforcing its ruling and Israel has said it will defy any order to stop the fighting.

The Hostage Families Forum released a statement confirming that the bodies of three hostages have been found.

“It is with deep sadness that the Families Forum bows its head following the announcement of the assassination of Michel Nisenbaum, Hanan Yablonka and Oryon Hernandez Radoux, may their memories be a blessing, at the hands of Hamas terrorists* , says the statement obtained by ABC News.

The bodies of the three hostages, murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, were repatriated to Israel for burial.

“The painful return of Michel, Hanan and Oryon is another heartbreak for the 125 families of the hostages, who share the endless pain, sorrow and worry. Their return for burial provides important closure for family members, and efforts must be made. bring back all the murdered hostages to Israel,” the statement said.

Three U.S. service members were injured, including one in critical condition, after a non-combat accident linked to the U.S.-built jetty off the coast of Gaza, known as JLOTS, or Joint Overhead Logistics Capability. coasts, according to US Central Command.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of CENTCOM, did not provide details Thursday, saying only that the injuries were non-combat-related and that two of the service members had returned to duty, while the third was receiving treatment at a local Israeli hospital. .

A defense official told ABC News that the third service member was in critical condition and was injured aboard the USNS Benavidez, a U.S. Navy cargo ship. A U.S. official said it was a forklift accident.

No further details were immediately released.

-Luis Martinez of ABC News

U.S. officials provided an update Thursday on efforts to deliver aid to Gaza through the military’s Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system, a floating pier built to transport aid to the region.

Since Friday, more than 506 tons of aid have been transported via the pier, according to officials.

Officials from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) held an audio-only briefing with reporters on continuing aid efforts.

“Since the first shipments of this aid arrived on Friday via the humanitarian maritime corridor, the UN has distributed more than 506 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to people in need,” Daniel Dieckhaus, director of the management team, said on Thursday. of USAID’s response to the Levant.

“To put things in perspective, more than two-thirds of the supplies entering through this new corridor have already been distributed, or are being distributed, by humanitarian partners directly to people in need,” he said. he adds.

Humanitarian aid was also delivered by land via 70 trucks that crossed the border into Gaza, according to Dieckhaus.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, deputy commander of CENTCOM, noted that “over the past few days we have delivered over a million pounds of aid to the Palestinians,” adding: “We can all feel good about this subject. »