SOUTH AFRICA pressed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today to order Israel to immediately halt its assault on Rafah, saying it marked “the last step in the destruction of Gaza.”

The court in The Hague granted an emergency hearing, with South African lawyers arguing that Israel is conducting a “brutal military attack on the sole remaining refuge for the people of Gaza.” Israel will be given a chance to answer the accusations tomorrow.

Lawyer Adila Hassim said Israel’s behaviour since South Africa first put its case at the ICJ in January confirmed the accusation of genocide.