Turkey welcomed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order for Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid, urging immediate compliance and calling on the UN Security Council to enforce the ruling.
The ICJ’s decision, delivered on Friday, comes amid growing international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly in Rafah. Despite the ruling, Israel is not expected to comply, intensifying the international pressure on the country.
“No country in the world is above the law. We expect Israel to comply immediately with all ICJ rulings. In this regard, we call on the UN Security Council to do its part,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the genocide charges brought against Israel by South Africa at the ICJ as “false, outrageous and morally repugnant.” The ICJ’s ruling also calls for increased humanitarian aid and access for war crimes investigators in Gaza.
This development follows the recognition of a Palestinian state by three European countries and an arrest warrant request by another international court’s chief prosecutor for Netanyahu and Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant as well as leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The Gaza Strip is suffering a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s military campaign against Hamas that has been going on since October 7, with the United Nations and aid agencies warning of impending famine.
The war started with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the death of roughly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and some 250 people taken hostage.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 35,857 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has devastated the Gaza Strip.
Turkey is one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s war on Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of committing “war crimes” and “genocide” in the enclave. In early May Turkey’s Trade Ministry announced that it was suspending all trade with Israel until it allows aid to enter Gaza unhindered during its offensive against Hamas militants.