Palestinian Authority and Hamas Applaud World Court's Call to Halt Israeli Operations in Rafah

The Palestinian Authority and Hamas welcomed the World Court's order for Israel to stop its operations in Rafah, viewing it as an international step towards ending the Gaza conflict. While Hamas acknowledged the decision, it believes more needs to be done to address aggression in other parts of Gaza and called for UN intervention.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the World Court's order on Friday for Israel to halt its operations in the city of Rafah, saying it represents an international consensus to end the war in Gaza, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Reuters.

Hamas, which governs Gaza, also issued a statement welcoming the decision, but told Reuters that it fell short of recognising that other parts of the enclave are under attack. "We believe it is not enough since the occupation's aggression across the Gaza Strip, especially in northern Gaza, is just as brutal and dangerous," senior Hamas official Basem Naim said.

Hamas called on the United Nations Security Council to implement the International Court of Justice decision, he said, adding that the group welcomes the court's request to allow investigation committees to reach the Gaza Strip to probe allegations of genocide against the Palestinian people. Israel has strongly denied it has carried out acts of genocide in its

war in Gaza , which is now in its eighth month.

"Hamas pledges to cooperate with the investigation committees," Naim told Reuters.