Hyderabad, Feb. 14 -- The South African government has submitted an "urgent request" to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an assessment of Israel's expansion of its military operations in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

South Africa cited section 1 of Article 75 of the Rules of Court, which says the court "may at any time decide to examine proprio motu whether the circumstances of the case require the indication of provisional measures which ought to be taken or complied with by any or all of the parties."

In a statement, South Africa said on Tuesday, February 13, "Rafah, which is the last refuge for surviving people in Gaza, requires that the court uses its power to prevent further imminent breach of the right...