Israel asks World Court to reject request for Rafah emergency orders

Earlier this week South Africa asked the court to issue extra emergency measures to protect Palestinians' rights in Rafah.

The ICJ last month ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa.

Israel has denied all allegations of genocide in connection with its war against the militant armed group Hamas.

It was not clear when the judges will rule on South Africa's latest request or whether they will call additional hearings to consider it.

PARIS: The European Union will have to double its military support to Ukraine to fill a gap left by the United States after months of blockage of new aid by Congress, a research institute that monitors assistance said on Friday (Feb 16).

With existing funding having already dried up, Republicans in the US House of Representatives are blocking authorising US$60 billion in new military aid despite Ukrainian commanders and Western officials have said in recent days that Ukrainian troops are running out of ammunition.

In documents released on Thursday by the ICJ, also known as the World Court, Israel argued that the emergency measures issued three weeks ago already cover "the situation of hostilities in Gaza as a whole" and the court should reject the South African request.

It was not clear when the judges will rule on South Africa's latest request or whether they will call additional hearings to consider it.