ALWAGHT- The ICJ has ordered Israel to permit aid into Gaza and guarantee the basic needs of Palestinians, highlighting UNRWA’s critical role amid the escalating crisis.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and ensure Palestinians’ basic survival needs are met, highlighting the essential role of UNRWA in the ongoing crisis. The court dismissed Israel’s claims that UNRWA staff participated in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, operation, finding that Israel failed to provide evidence to support these allegations. Norway, which requested the advisory opinion, announced plans to propose a UN General Assembly resolution demanding Israel lift its restrictions on aid.
The ICJ emphasized that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obligated to facilitate relief efforts and must not block humanitarian supplies. Despite increased aid deliveries since the ceasefire, organizations like the World Food Programme report that daily shipments remain well below the needed levels to prevent a crisis. The court noted that UNRWA remains irreplaceable for the delivery of critical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
Hamas welcomed the ICJ ruling, stating it refutes Israel’s claims against UNRWA and affirms the agency’s vital humanitarian role. The court also condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war and reiterated that Israel must meet the urgent humanitarian needs of Palestinians while refraining from imposing domestic laws or settlement expansion in the occupied territories.
Palestinian officials called on the international community to ensure Israel complies with the ICJ decision. They emphasized that enforcement is necessary because Israel is unlikely to voluntarily uphold its obligations, and the world must act to guarantee the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid and protect the rights of Palestinians under international law.
