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New Delhi :The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued an order requiring Israel to stop its military activities in Rafah immediately. This decision was supported by Judge Dalveer Bhandari, representing India at the ICJ.
Judge Bhandari is a well-respected jurist with an impressive career history. Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in 1947, he has been honored with numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 2014. He has been a member of the ICJ since 2012 and has played a significant role in many important cases.
Before joining the ICJ, Judge Bhandari had a distinguished career in the Indian judiciary. He was appointed as a senior judge of the Supreme Court of India on October 28, 2005. During his tenure, he delivered important judgments in various areas of law, such as constitutional law, criminal law, civil procedure, administrative law, arbitration, family law, labor law, and corporate law.
At the ICJ, Judge Bhandari has been involved in several landmark cases, including those related to maritime disputes, whaling in Antarctica, genocide, territorial boundaries, nuclear disarmament, terrorism financing, and sovereign rights violations. He also chaired the Delhi Centre of the International Law Association and served as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court. One of his notable rulings at the Bombay High Court was in a divorce case, which led to a significant consideration for amending the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, to include irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce.
The recent ICJ ruling, led by Presiding Judge Nawaf Salam, responded to an application from South Africa accusing Israel of committing acts that could amount to genocide in Rafah. The ICJ ordered Israel to halt any actions that might lead to the destruction of the Palestinian population and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid and access to UN bodies investigating these allegations.
The decision was reached with a 13-2 vote, with only Judges Julia Sebutinde from Uganda and former Israeli High Court President Judge Aharon Barak dissenting. Despite the ruling, Israel has rejected the ICJ's order. Israel's National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and the foreign ministry stated that Israel's military operations in Rafah comply with international law and are not intended to create conditions leading to genocide. Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz also emphasized that military operations would continue as necessary.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the ICJ ruling and called for its immediate implementation, stressing that Israel, as a party to the Genocide Convention, must comply with ICJ resolutions.
Judge Bhandari's support for the ruling highlights his ongoing commitment to upholding international law and justice, continuing his legacy of significant contributions to the legal field both in India and at the international level.
