Türkiye expects 'swift’ implementation of top court ruling on Rafah

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has welcomed the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order to Israel to immediately halt the Rafah operation in southern Gaza on Friday and expects the decisions to be implemented swiftly.

"We welcome the interim injunction issued by the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to cease its attacks on Rafah in Gaza and immediately open the Rafah border crossing to humanitarian aid," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, while urging the U.N. Security Council to do its part to ensure Israel's prompt compliance with the ruling.

The top U.N. court ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah on May 24, a landmark ruling likely to increase international pressure for a ceasefire more than seven months into the war.

The Hague-based court, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city.

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said on Friday that the ICJ order is "important yet insufficient."

"The decision of the ICJ to stop the attacks of the occupying Israel, which has been committing genocide in Gaza and Rafah since Oct. 7, and to pave the way for humanitarian aid, is important but insufficient to end the blood and tears flowing in Palestine," Tunç said on X, further emphasizing that Israel must comply with the order.

"Israel must stop acting like a terrorist organization and fulfill the requirements of international law," Tunç stated.

"Countries and international organizations that believe in democracy and human rights should also take action to ensure that Israel complies with the decisions," the...