ICJ orders Israel to end Rafah offensive in Gaza over South African genocide case

Welcome back to World Brief. We will depart Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day, but will return Tuesday. For today we look to the future of Israelthe military offensive of Rafahongoing ceasefire efforts to Russia And Ukraineand a deadly landslide in Papua New Guinea.

World Court Rules on Israel

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to stop its attack on Rafah, in southern Gaza, from where the Israeli military offensive has forced some 800,000 Palestinians to flee over the past two weeks. The 15-judge panel voted 13-2 in favor of the emergency measures, which are part of South Africa’s ongoing case accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza in violation of the Convention on the 1948 genocide.

“This order is revolutionary because it is the first time that it is explicitly mentioned that Israel must cease its military action in any area of Gaza,” said South African official Zane Dangor.

Under Friday’s ruling, Israel must cease actions that “could inflict conditions on the Palestinian group in Gaza that could lead to its physical destruction in whole or in part,” ICJ President Nawaf Salam said. However, the justices themselves remain divided on how this should be interpreted. Four of the 15 judges argued that the ruling did not require Israel to end all Rafah operations, but simply those that might violate the Genocide Convention. Only the Ugandan and Israeli judges voted against this measure.

The ICJ also ordered Israel to allow investigators access to the enclave and Israel to report its progress in adhering to these demands within a month. And he said Israel must “keep open the Rafah border crossing” between Egypt and Gaza, which Israeli forces took control of earlier this month, to allow the flow of humanitarian aid.

Since then, Egypt has blocked the entry of aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, insisting that Israel must return the corridor to Palestinian control before allowing deliveries to resume. However, Egypt agreed on Friday to allow aid to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing, also in southern Gaza, until an agreement acceptable to both Egypt and Israel regarding the control of the Rafah terminal is put in place. The Biden administration is sending a team of senior officials to Cairo next week to try to negotiate such an arrangement.

All ICJ decisions are final and binding, but the Court has no enforcement mechanism. If Israel disobeys a World Court order, then it could face international sanctions. ICJ member states could also appeal to the United Nations Security Council to call for an immediate ceasefire. In such a case, Israel will expect the United States to veto it, as it has done in the past. However, foreign leaders hope that Friday’s decision will prompt the Security Council to try again to adopt such a resolution.

Friday’s decision was part of emergency measures called for last week, after South Africa said the Israeli offensive on Rafah was “the latest step in the destruction of Gaza and its people.” Israel rejected the court’s accusations, saying its operations were in self-defense in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and were “limited and localized” in scope. “No power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and attacking Hamas in Gaza,” Israeli spokesman Avi Hyman said Thursday. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir added Friday that Israel would continue its “conquest of Rafah” until it achieves “total victory” over Hamas.

Hamas official Basem Naim said the group welcomed the ICJ’s decision but said it “is not enough since the occupation’s aggression in the Gaza Strip and particularly in northern Gaza is just as brutal and dangerous.” Already, more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Naim made no mention of another part of Friday’s ICJ order, in which the court reiterated its call for the “immediate and unconditional release” of hostages still held by Hamas and other groups. armed in Gaza.

What we track

Truce proposals. Russian President Vladimir Putin appears willing to end Moscow’s war against Ukraine if a ceasefire recognizes current battlefield lines, Reuters reported Friday. “Putin can fight as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire, for freezing the war,” said a Russian source familiar with conversations at the highest level in the Kremlin. Russia currently owns significant portions of four Ukrainian regions and continues to advance in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X on Friday that Putin was spreading rumors to try to destabilize peace talks planned in Switzerland next month. “His entourage is sending these false signals of alleged desire for a ceasefire despite the fact that Russian troops continue to brutally attack Ukraine,” he wrote. Putin was not invited to the summit, at kyiv’s request. Russia has repeatedly accused the West of undermining negotiating efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said peace on Putin’s terms was unacceptable for kyiv and pledged to retake lost territories, including Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Meanwhile, Russian security forces arrested Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin on Thursday. Shamarin served as deputy chief of the army’s general staff and is accused of accepting bribes. Hours later, authorities arrested Vladimir Verteletsky, another senior defense official, for abuse of authority, bringing the total number of senior Russian military officials detained in less than a month to five. And that doesn’t include Putin swapping Sergei Shoigu with Andrei Belousov for defense minister.

Massive losses. A major landslide in the village of Kaokalam in Papua New Guinea destroyed more than 50 homes early Friday. Local authorities said more than 300 people may have died, many of whom were sleeping at the time of the landslide. Prime Minister James Marape deployed teams to the scene. It is unclear whether the landslide impacted operations at the local Porgera gold mine.

Some residents expressed concern about the city’s fuel and food supplies. Kaokalam is approximately 370 miles from the capital, Port Moresby, and is located in the Highland mountain region. The landslide blocked a main road leading to the village, so for now only helicopters can access the area.

Money talks. G7 finance ministers met in Italy on Friday to discuss the looming trade war between the United States and China. European officials have called on the bloc to stand united against “unfair” Chinese industrial policies. Washington has accused Beijing of endangering American jobs with cheap Chinese exports and announced tariff hikes on key imports including electric vehicles and semiconductors.

On Saturday, G7 finance ministers are also expected to discuss whether to use future profits from frozen Russian assets to provide a loan to Ukraine. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the loan could be worth around $50 billion. World Bank President Ajay Banga told Reuters he was “absolutely” open to such a loan for non-military purposes.

What is happening in the world?

Which African leader arrived at the White House on Thursday to meet US President Joe Biden?

A. Kenyan President William Ruto
B. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu
C. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu
D. Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi

Tips

Argentinian President Javier Milei should perhaps reconsider his true vocation. The far-right leader held a rock concert on Wednesday to promote his new book, during which he declared: “I am the king and I will destroy you!” The stadium concert, performed before a crowd of around 8,000 people in Buenos Aires, was attended by a large portion of Milei’s supporters. Before entering politics, Milei was the frontman for a Rolling Stones cover band called Everest.

And the answer is…

A. Kenyan President William Ruto

Ruto is the first African head of state to receive an official state visit in 15 years, writes Caroline Gray.

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