The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel failed in its responsibilities as an occupying power to provide sufficient aid to Palestinian civilians. The advisory opinion, issued on Wednesday, said that Israeli authorities are required to work with the United Nations to ensure residents, particularly those in Gaza, receive essential supplies for daily life.
The U.N. General Assembly had requested the court’s opinion last year, following the passage of two laws by the Knesset that banned the operations of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). For decades, UNRWA has been the main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, home to around 2.2 million people, most of whom are descendants of refugees displaced in 1948 when Israel was established.
In its ruling, the court noted that Gaza’s population has been “inadequately supplied” with basic needs such as food, water, shelter, fuel, and medical care. It referred to recent reports showing famine conditions in parts of Gaza City. The ICJ stated that Israel must respect international law prohibiting the use of starvation as a weapon and must “unconditionally” allow relief efforts for civilians.
The Israeli government rejected the ruling and questioned the court’s jurisdiction. Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, called the decision a “politicization of international law” aimed at harming the state of Israel. The U.S. State Department also criticized the ruling, calling it “corrupt” and “politicized,” and accused the ICJ of overlooking UNRWA’s alleged ties to Hamas.
Israel has long argued that it is no longer an occupying power in Gaza since withdrawing troops and settlers in 2005. However, the court said that Israel’s ongoing military operations have “increased significantly” its control over the territory. The judges emphasized that security concerns cannot justify ignoring humanitarian obligations under international law.
While the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, they carry significant moral and political influence within the international community.
In other news read more about: Israel Killed 1,000 Palestinians in Northern Gaza in 3 Weeks
