UN court orders Israel to halt Gaza offensive, isolating US position further

A ruling by the top United Nations court has ordered Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. This decision has further strained Israel’s relationship with the United States. While there is growing international condemnation of the operation, U.S. officials still describe it as limited and targeted, at least for now.

The International Court of Justice’s decision on Friday intensifies the pressure on Israel, which is already feeling isolated. This comes shortly after Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced their recognition of a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of another international court sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of Hamas.

The Biden administration, although opposed to a large-scale offensive in Rafah, maintains that Israel’s actions thus far have not crossed critical boundaries. They continue to provide military and political support to Israel, following a deadly Hamas attack last October, while urging Israel to avoid a full-scale operation in Rafah’s densely populated areas.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan noted that Israel’s military actions in Rafah have been targeted and limited and have not yet entered the core urban areas. He emphasized that the situation could change, and further developments need to be monitored.

A State Department official mentioned that the offensive has not yet penetrated the densest parts of Rafah, which is a crucial factor in the administration’s current stance. Earlier this month, the White House paused a shipment of bombs to Israel, with President Biden warning that he would halt supplies if Israel escalated the offensive in Rafah.

The Biden administration has suggested that a major operation could hinder negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and might prompt a further reduction in U.S. military support. However, after a recent visit to Israel, Sullivan reported that Israeli officials have made refinements to their plans that address some of Biden’s concerns.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, Palestinians in Rafah continue to suffer. The city, located at the southernmost point of the Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border, has become a critical crossing for aid. While over a million people sought refuge there from other conflict areas, about 900,000 have since fled due to ongoing fighting. The U.N. and aid groups report that Israeli military operations have made it difficult to deliver essential supplies to the region.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) indicates that Gaza needs 600 trucks of food and aid daily to prevent famine from spreading. However, despite U.S. efforts to bring in aid by sea, the supplies received have been insufficient.

International humanitarian organizations have welcomed the ICJ’s ruling, hoping it will increase pressure on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. Doctors Without Borders highlighted the catastrophic conditions for Palestinian civilians and the urgent need for more humanitarian assistance.

Israel has shown no signs of complying with the court order, which calls for halting the offensive, increasing aid, and allowing access for war crimes investigators. The war in Gaza began after an October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, including soldiers, with another 250 taken hostage. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed.

The court’s demands exceed what the U.S. has currently asked of Israel, although Washington remains opposed to a more extensive operation in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the administration does not support a full-scale military assault on Rafah, believing there are more effective and sustainable ways to address the challenges posed by Hamas.