Israeli ministers overturned the verdict delivered on Friday international Court (ICJ) that ordered Israel to stop military operations in the city of Rafahin the south of the Gaza Strip, and vowed to continue the fight to free the hostages and defeat Hamas.

Friday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice was the latest in a series of measures taken in recent weeks that deepened Israel’s international isolation due to its handling of the Gaza warwhich, according to local health authorities, killed more than 35,000 Palestinians.

Office of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies the accusations in the case presented by South Africa, that Israel spent genocide in Gaza as “false, scandalous and morally repugnant”.

Netanyahu said in a statement:

Israel acts on the basis of its right to defend its territory and its citizens, in accordance with its moral values ​​and in accordance with international law.

In addition, he noted that operations in Rafah would not be carried out in a manner that would “create living conditions for the Palestinian civilian population of Gaza that may lead to their complete or partial physical destruction.”

The war, sparked by the Hamas attack on October 7 last year, caused the growing gap between Israel and much of the rest of the worldand serious tensions between Netanyahu’s government and its closest allies, including the United States.

Rafah, near the border with Egypt. welcomed more than a million Palestinians forced to flee their homes Israeli ground attack until the army was ordered to evacuate earlier this month. sent hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in camps in central Gaza.

“Keep Fighting”

However, the immediate practical impact on Israeli politics is likely to be limited, as it will add to the inflammatory national sentiment already fueled by International Criminal Court prosecutor’s decision to request an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The case was brought to the International Court South Africa on the grounds that, by killing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, causing them serious mental and physical harm and creating living conditions “calculated for their physical destruction”, Israel is committing genocide against them.

Israel called the accusations outrageousdeclares that it is doing everything possible to protect civilians and accuses Hamas of deliberately using civilians as human shieldsThe Islamist group, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, rejected the accusation.

War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, who spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said that Israel launched a “just and necessary campaign” after the October 7 attack. and stated that he would continue despite the verdict.

“The State of Israel is committed to continuing to fight for the return of its hostages and to promise security to its citizens wherever and whenever needed, including in Rafah,” he said in a statement.

Reuters