Israel has continued its relentless attacks on Rafah, openly ignoring the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to cease military operations in the area. Reports indicate multiple deaths in central and northern Gaza, which have faced renewed assaults.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah, noted that
“the Shaboura camp and areas close to the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah on Saturday were targeted.”
Injured individuals from the bombardment were transported to the hospital, the only facility in Rafah governorate still accepting patients. The hospital has urgently appealed for fuel deliveries to maintain its operations.
This latest ICJ ruling, the third of its kind this year, urged Israel to halt its offensive, citing “immense risk” to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians taking refuge in Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza. Since Israel commenced its current offensive on May 7, over 800,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah.
The UN’s top court seeks to mitigate the rising Palestinian death toll since October while addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants. With nearly 36,000 Palestinians reported dead and significant areas of Gaza devastated by Israeli bombardments, the situation has become increasingly dire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the ICJ ruling, labeling allegations of genocide from South Africa as
“false, outrageous and morally repugnant.”
In response to Israel’s defiance of the court’s order, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories called for sanctions against Israel. Francesca Albanese stated,
“Be sure: Israel will not stop this madness until WE make it stop. Member states must impose sanctions, arms embargo and suspend diplo[matic]/political relations with Israel till it ceases its assault.”
As violence escalates, Israel has intensified its attacks on northern Gaza, including a strike on a school sheltering displaced individuals in the as-Saftawi neighborhood of the Jabalia refugee camp. Al Jazeera journalists reported that at least ten people were killed and 17 others injured in the latest assaults.
Further north, Israeli warplanes bombed a residential area in Beit Hanoon, resulting in ten fatalities, including women and children. In Gaza City, an airstrike on a family home in the Sabra neighborhood killed a woman and injured others. Additional attacks on residential buildings in the Daraj neighborhood have also been reported, alongside heavy shelling in several other areas.
With casualties mounting in northern Gaza, Israeli forces are reportedly surrounding Kamal Adwan Hospital, severely restricting its capacity to treat incoming patients. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, head of the pediatrics department, expressed concerns about the ongoing siege, stating that patients and premature infants remain trapped inside. Efforts to contact the Red Cross and UNICEF for assistance have yielded no assurances of intervention.
Tragically, Israeli quadcopters targeted Palestinians in Wadi Gaza, where six individuals were killed. This area, often a gathering point for those seeking aid, has seen critical shortages as the situation continues to deteriorate. A recent Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in the Nuseirat refugee camp resulted in at least four fatalities.
The control of the Rafah border crossing by Israeli troops has further hampered aid deliveries to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Earlier this week, the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) announced a suspension of food distribution in Rafah due to supply shortages and security concerns.
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths underscored the urgency of the situation on social media, stating,
“At a time when the people of Gaza are staring down famine, it is more critical than ever to heed the calls made over the last seven months: Release the hostages. Agree to a ceasefire. End this nightmare.”
As the conflict persists, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.