The United Nations’ top court has ruled that Israel must “immediately halt its military offensive” in Rafah in southern Gaza.

The International Court of Justice, which decides disputes between countries, says “the catastrophic situation” in Gaza had deteriorated and described humanitarian conditions in Rafah as “disastrous.”  

The judges also said the Rafah border crossing with Egypt must be opened for the entry of humanitarian aid “at scale”.

South Africa had asked the ICJ to make the order as an emergency measure, saying Israel’s actions in Rafah amount to a “genocidal” operation and threatened the survival of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again rejected allegations of genocide, calling them false and outrageous. Some of his cabinet partners accused the court of antisemitism and siding with Hamas.

However for Mr Netanyahu’s critics the ruling is one more sign of Israel’s growing international isolation.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Lucy Williamson in Jerusalem and legal affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani.

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