DUBLIN, Saturday, May 25, 2024 (WAFA) – Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin today welcomed an International Court of Justice ruling Friday that ordered Israel to immediately halt its offensive on the city of Rafah, open the Rafah crossing and allow access to international fact-finding missions.

Martin said in a statement that the Court's orders are "crystal clear," stressing that they "must be complied with."

Noting that the international community has urged Israel not to initiate a ground offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Martin underlined that Israel has rather chosen to "disregard these requests."

"But it cannot choose to disregard the orders from the International Court of Justice," said Martin, adding the orders are legally binding.

"It is my heartfelt hope that we are reaching a turning point in this devastating conflict," he said.

Martin urged all parties to intensify efforts to secure an immediate cease-fire, the unconditional release of hostages and massively scaled-up access and distribution of humanitarian aid "with the utmost urgency.”

"It is time to take concrete and irreversible steps to implement a two-state solution," he said, noting that the issue will be his top agenda item when he meets European and Arab partners in Brussels in the coming days.

Y.S