Last week, the ICJ issued provisional orders calling on Israel to cease its military operation in Rafah.

Israel was told to “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.

The ruling has been interpreted in Jerusalem as giving the Israeli Defence Forces leeway to continue a limited operation in Rafah.

“What they are asking us, is not to commit genocide in Rafah. We did not commit genocide and we will not commit genocide,” Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel’s national security adviser told broadcaster Channel 12.