Historic ICJ Ruling: South Africa's Victory in Gaza Conflict

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to cease its military offensive in Rafah, Gaza, in a landmark ruling prompted by South Africa's request. The ruling responds to allegations of genocide brought against Israel, which it dismisses as unfounded, maintaining its actions are in self-defense against Hamas militants.

South Africa's international relations department on Friday hailed as ground-breaking a ruling by the International Court of Justice that ordered Israel to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Judges at the World Court earlier on Friday backed a South African request to order Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah, a week after Pretoria called for the measure in a case accusing Israel of genocide.

Israel has repeatedly dismissed the case's accusations of genocide as baseless, arguing in court that its operations in Gaza are self-defence and targeted at Hamas militants who attacked Israel on Oct. 7.