ICJ Rules Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday ruled that Israel is obliged under the Geneva Convention to permit and facilitate humanitarian aid from third states and neutral organisations,

including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), to ensure sufficient assistance reaches the Gaza Strip.

The court emphasised that Israel, as the occupying power, has an unconditional duty to meet the basic needs of the population. It found that Gaza’s population has been “inadequately supplied” and that Israel cannot block or restrict humanitarian operations.

ICJ rejected Israel’s claims that UNRWA staff were linked to armed groups and noted that aid distribution was carried out without discrimination based on nationality, religion, race, or political opinion. The court underlined that the occupying power cannot use security concerns to justify a general suspension of humanitarian activities, and that its obligation to facilitate aid is unconditional.

The ruling also reiterated that Israel’s claim over East Jerusalem is null and void, and that starvation cannot be used as a method of warfare. ICJ called on Israel to respect the property, assets, and immunity of UN institutions and to avoid interfering with their operations.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the advisory opinion, calling it “entirely predictable”. Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein alleged on social media that UNRWA staff had participated in the October 2023 attacks and claimed Israel had provided extensive evidence of Hamas infiltration into UNRWA.

The ICJ ruling has sparked international attention, with humanitarian organisations stressing the urgent need for uninterrupted aid delivery to Gaza.

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