The International Court of Justice's recent ruling is consistent with Canada's stance on Israeli military operations in Rafah, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.
“Canada's position has been clear for many, many weeks. We need an immediate ceasefire. Hamas must lay down its weapons and release all hostages, but there must also be no further military operations by Israel in Rafah,” Trudeau said during a press conference in Truro, NS.
“The ICJ’s proposals are binding and we expect everyone to comply with them for reasons of international law.”
His comments come after the United Nations' top court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city, but failed to order a ceasefire for the enclave.
This decision sent a threefold message to Israel: calling on the country to stop the Rafah offensive, allow war crimes investigators access to the Gaza Strip and immediately increase humanitarian aid to the region.
The ruling is a blow to Israel's international reputation, but the court does not have the police force to enforce its orders.
Benny Gantz, one of three members of Israel's war cabinet, indicated that his country's military would not change course in Rafah despite the latest order.
“The State of Israel is determined to continue fighting for the release of its hostages and to ensure the safety of its citizens wherever and whenever necessary, including in Rafah,” Gantz said.
Gantz's comments on Friday were Israel's main reaction to the ICJ ruling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond publicly.
Criticism of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip is increasing, especially since the focus has shifted to Rafah.
This week, three European countries announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of another international court requested arrest warrants for Israeli politicians and Hamas officials.
Canada abstained from a UN vote earlier this month on formal recognition of Palestine, but opened the door to supporting statehood before the end of the current conflict.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also under pressure at home to end the war. The trigger was the invasion of Israel by Hamas-led militants on October 7, in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 250 taken hostage.
Thousands of Israelis are taking part in weekly demonstrations, calling on the government to reach an agreement to release the hostages, fearing that time is running out.
Israel's offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
The operation razed entire neighborhoods to the ground, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, and caused famine in parts of the country.
On Friday, Trudeau reiterated Canada's support for a two-state solution and accused the Israeli government of standing in the way of that goal.
“Unfortunately, the Netanyahu government is erecting barriers and blockades that make it impossible to ever create or even imagine a two-state solution. On this point, we fundamentally disagree with the Netanyahu government,” Trudeau said.
Heather McPherson, NDP foreign policy critic, said on Friday that the Canadian government should put pressure on Israel to comply with the ICJ ruling.
She called for sanctions against the Israeli War Cabinet as well as against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Yoel Smotrich.
“Canada must support this decision by increasing pressure on Israel now,” McPherson said on X.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2024.
— With files from The Associated Press.