The ICJ’s Rafah ruling is unwelcome and unwise

Yesterday afternoon, in a striking move, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top court, ordered Israel to stop military operations in Rafah and to immediately reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt for the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid. The ICJ also ordered Israel to allow the UN to investigate allegations of genocide.

This dramatic step is the culmination of a bad month for the Israeli Government. Earlier in May, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor said he was seeking the arrest of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes. This week, in a series of co-ordinated announcements, Ireland, Spain and Norway recognised a Palestinian state, arguing that this would somehow bolster moves for peace in the region.

The ICJ’s order, which is legally binding and not open to appeal, is part of a wider case being pursued by South Africa against Israel. The South African Government has claimed that