Tough answer to International Court of Hague (ICJ) gave Tel Aviv on Friday night. Israel has not, and will not carry out military activity in Rafah “which creates living conditions that could lead to the destruction of the civilian population of Palestine,” insists a joint statement by the National Security Council and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The joint statement follows a ruling by the International Court of Justice that ordered Israel to “immediately cease its military offensive and any other action in Rafah that may cause the Palestinian population in Gaza living conditions that could its natural destruction in whole or in part”.

The International Court of Justice ruled against Israel at the request of South Africa, which blamed Israel for genocide in Gaza.

The Israeli statement characterizes these categories “false, outrageous and disgusting”. He argues that Israel’s actions in Gaza are part of a “just defensive war to eliminate the Hamas organization and free our hostages” after the October 7 terrorist attack.

In response to other ICJ orders, including keeping the Rafah border crossing open, the statement said Israel would “continue its efforts to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip” and “reduce as much as possible the harm to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.”

More than one million Palestinians – many displaced by Israel’s military campaign in other areas of Gaza – took refuge in Rafah before Israeli forces began their operation in the southernmost city. Gazans say they have nowhere to go.

Israel’s closure of the Rafah border crossing has already caused a greater humanitarian crisis due to shortages of food and humanitarian aid that Palestinians desperately need.