In defiance of a UN court’s order for an immediate cessation of military action, Israeli forces launched strikes on the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, early Saturday.
On Friday, in a highly anticipated judgment, the International Court of Justice demanded the release of all hostages held by Palestinians and directed Tel Aviv to reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israel had closed at the beginning of its offensive earlier this month.
Despite the ruling, reports from AFP indicated that Israel continued its strikes on the Gaza Strip early Saturday.
As hostilities persisted between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, Palestinian witnesses and AFP teams reported Israeli air raids in Rafah and Deir al-Balah.
Meanwhile, separate discussions regarding the Gaza conflict are set to take place in Paris, involving the CIA head and Israeli representatives, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and the foreign ministers of four Arab nations.
