JEDDAH, Friday, May 24, 2024 (WAFA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) today welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that ordered Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah.

In a press statement, the OIC welcomed the ICJ’s ruling ordering that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in Rafah that may inflict conditions of life that could bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinians in Gaza.

It called on the international community to ensure that Israel complies with the ICJ ruling, assume its responsibilities towards the realization of justice and provision of protection for the Palestinian people as well as putting an end to the acts of genocide inflicted on the Strip.

It reaffirmed the need for ongoing political and legal rights to ensure a complete cessation of the Israeli genocidal aggression on the Strip as well as to all acts of genocide perpetrated by Israel across the occupied Palestinian territories, and ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid to all parts of the Strip immediately, sufficiently and sustainably.

Following South Africa’s plea, the ICJ has ruled in a 13-2 vote that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in Rafah and open the Rafah border crossing to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to the blockaded Strip.

The ICJ also ordered Israel to "ensure the unimpeded access of commissions of inquiry or investigative bodies mandated by the UN to investigate allegations of genocide" and report to the court within a month on its progress in implementing the measures.

The ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, stopped short of calling for a full ceasefire today.

K.F.