Saudi Arabia hails ICJ's order for Israel to stop Rafah offensive

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order for Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said ICJ's ruling goes "in conformity with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide."

"The Kingdom also renews its call on the international community to assume its responsibility to stop all forms of aggression against the Palestinian people," the statement added.

Earlier, The ICJ on Friday reaffirmed its previous orders, and indicated further measures including an end to military operations in the southern city, maintaining the Rafah border crossing open and allowing access for investigators to the blockaded enclave.

ICJ President Nawaf Salam said the situation in Gaza had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to take steps to improve it.

Israel continued its brutal offensive on Gaza despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 35,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and nearly 80,300 others injured since October following an attack by Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.


*Writing by Ahmed Asmar