ICJ to give opinion on Israel’s duty to allow aid into Gaza - As-salamu alaykum
As-salamu alaykum. The top UN court will deliver an opinion Wednesday about Israel’s responsibilities toward organizations trying to bring humanitarian help to Palestinians in Gaza, as aid groups rush to increase assistance after the ceasefire. Judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague were asked for an advisory opinion clarifying Israel’s duty, as an occupying power, to enable UN and other bodies to provide life-saving supplies without obstruction.
An advisory opinion from the ICJ isn’t legally binding, but it holds significant legal and moral weight. The court heard a week of testimony in April from many countries and organizations, much of which focused on the role and status of UNRWA, the agency serving Palestinian refugees. Israel did not participate in those hearings; its foreign minister called the proceedings an effort to delegitimize Israel and said the UN and UNRWA were the ones under scrutiny.
Israel suspended UNRWA’s operations inside Israel after accusing some staff of involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks that led to the war. Several investigations flagged some concerns about neutrality at the agency, but an April 2024 report said Israel had not yet provided supporting evidence for claims that a large number of UNRWA employees were members of terrorist groups. At the ICJ hearings, a US official voiced worries about UNRWA’s impartiality and said Hamas had used some of its facilities, adding that Israel was not obliged to let UNRWA specifically handle all aid deliveries. Palestinian representatives told the court that Israel was using restrictions on help as a weapon of war, causing famine conditions in Gaza.
UNRWA’s chief has called the agency a lifeline for nearly six million Palestinian refugees. The agency still has thousands of staff in Gaza and hopes to be central to reconstruction after the recent fragile ceasefire. The agency says more than 370 of its workers have been killed since the conflict began.
On the eve of the ICJ opinion, the World Food Programme reported that hundreds of its trucks had entered Gaza since the ceasefire, bringing thousands of tonnes of food - supplies that can feed hundreds of thousands for a short period. Daily deliveries have improved but remain well below humanitarian targets.
Israel faces several international legal challenges over its conduct in Gaza. Earlier this year the ICJ issued an opinion calling Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful and urging it to end. The court is also considering allegations that Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. Separately, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
May Allah protect civilians and ease the suffering of all innocent people affected by this conflict.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/