Josep Borrell, the European Union’s chief of foreign affairs, emphasized on Saturday that Israel must adhere to a recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) order regarding its military activities in Rafah, Gaza, as reported by dpa.
The ICJ, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, issued a directive on Friday demanding that Israel immediately halt its offensive in Rafah. Borrell, referencing the order on social media platform X, stated, “ICJ orders are binding on the Parties and they have to be fully and effectively implemented.”
Additionally, Borrell highlighted a specific directive from the court for Israel to keep the Rafah crossing open for humanitarian assistance, underscoring the importance of compliance for humanitarian reasons.
Israel, responding to the ICJ’s ruling, maintained that its military operations in Rafah were defensive and justified, citing attacks by Hamas on October 7 as the catalyst for their actions.