South Africa at ICJ: Israel has defied the court in its offensive on Rafah

South African delegate Professor Max du Plessis told the ICJ that instead of complying with the orders it issued in January, Israel has defied the court by "trapping, besieging and bombarding overcrowded Rafah".

He added that Israel's current offensive on the city is the "deadliest phase of this ongoing genocide".

He said that the court's initial orders were made because the right of existence of the Palestinian population in Gaza is currently at risk of irreparable prejudice, the only effective way of preserving this right is through prevention.

South Africa is seeking these new measures before it's too late for prevention to be possible he said.

Citing the UN's declaration that "no one in Gaza is safe," he emphasised that "no one in Gaza is safe".