International Court of Justice orders Israel to halt military offensive in Rafah

Speaking on Friday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: "Regardless of any ruling - and I am very respectful of the ruling - we do not need a court ruling to tell us that what is happening in Gaza, the military incursion that may well happen in Rafah cannot. It needs to stop."

A lone demonstrator waves the Palestinian flag outside the Peace Palace, rear, housing the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

The top United Nations court has ordered Israel to halt its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Israel insists it has the right to defend itself from Hamas militants and is unlikely to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.