On Friday, I had two thoughts while listening to the chief judge of the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza. The first thought was that the court’s ruling was surprisingly forceful, as the judge explicitly stated that Israel must immediately stop its military offensive. The second thought was that the court’s use of punctuation would spark debate, particularly regarding whether Israel had to stop its offensive or only if it was about to harm Palestinians as a group. Despite differing opinions on what Israel could legally do instead, legal experts agreed that Israel could not continue its current offensive in Rafah without violating the court’s order. This interim decision, part of a case filed by South Africa in December, aims to prevent genocide in Gaza while the broader case is pending. The court’s order to halt the offensive in Rafah has sparked discussion, with some experts interpreting it as prohibiting Israel from continuing its current operation.
