International Court of Justice Says Israel must allow United Nations Agency to Supply Aid to Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Wednesday that Israel must allow the United Nations aid agency in Gaza, known as UNRWA, to provide humanitarian assistance to the war-torn territory. The UN General Assembly asked the court last year to give an advisory opinion on Israel's legal obligations after the country effectively banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the main provider of aid to Gaza, from operating in the territory. Israel "is under the obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA," the court's president Yuji Iwasawa said. The judgment, delivered in The Hague by an 11-judge panel led by President Yuji Iwasawa, addressed Israel’s legal responsibilities toward humanitarian agencies operating in the besieged enclave. The court found that Israel had failed to substantiate its claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees were affiliated with Hamas, saying such allegations were “not supported by sufficient proof.” The ICJ stressed that Israel cannot use starvation as a weapon of war and, as an occupying power, must ensure the delivery of aid if local supplies are insufficient. It reaffirmed that Israel’s domestic laws do not apply to the occupied Palestinian territories and underscored the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Israel has denied it has violated international law, saying the court's proceedings are biased, and did not attend hearings in April. However, the country provided a 38-page written submission for the court to consider. Advisory opinions carry significant legal weight and experts say the case could have broader ramifications for the UN and its missions worldwide. In a message on the social media platform X, Israel's Foreign Ministry said it categorically rejected the court's findings and added that "Israel fully upholds its obligations under international law." The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called the advisory opinion "shameful." "They are blaming Israel for not co-operating with UN organs.… They should be blaming themselves. Those organs became breeding grounds for terrorists. Take for example UNRWA … an organization that supported Hamas for years," Danon said.