ICJ Rules Israel Must Facilitate Humanitarian Relief Efforts
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Wednesday that Israel must allow the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to resume delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. The decision follows Israel’s laws banning the agency from operating in the Palestinian territory, despite it being the main provider of food, health, and education services there.
“Israel is under the obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA,” said ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa during the announcement in The Hague. The advisory opinion was requested last year by the U.N. General Assembly after Israel began blocking UNRWA’s operations and aid deliveries.
UNRWA has been unable to bring supplies into Gaza since March but continues to operate clinics, schools, and sanitation services. The agency says more than 6,000 trucks of food, medicine, and other supplies remain stalled at border crossings in Egypt and Jordan.
UN and Palestinians Welcome the Ruling
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s commissioner-general, welcomed what he called “the unambiguous ruling by the International Court of Justice,” adding that the agency is ready to immediately scale up humanitarian operations. “With huge amounts of food and life-saving supplies on standby in Egypt and Jordan, UNRWA can quickly alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza,” he said.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the opinion “an important decision” and urged Israel to comply. “This decision comes at a moment when we are doing everything we can to boost humanitarian aid in Gaza,” he said. “Its impact is decisive for the tragic situation the people of Gaza still face.”
Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi described the decision as “clear, unequivocal, and conclusive,” saying it leaves Israel with “no pretext, no excuse” to block UNRWA’s work.
Israel Rejects the Court’s Opinion
In a written response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the court’s conclusions, asserting that it “fully upholds its obligations under international law.” The statement added that Israel “will not cooperate with an organization that is infested with terror activities,” referring to longstanding allegations that UNRWA is influenced by Hamas, claims the agency denies.
Israel did not attend the ICJ hearings in April but submitted a 38-page written brief arguing that the court lacked the evidence and mandate to issue such an opinion. The ICJ countered that Israel had failed to substantiate its accusations against the agency and reiterated that the Gaza population remains “inadequately supplied” with essential goods.
Legal Context and Broader Implications
The advisory opinion is nonbinding but carries significant legal and moral weight. It comes amid a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire that has held since October 10. The ICJ ruling is separate from the ongoing genocide case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of using starvation and disproportionate force in Gaza—charges Israel denies.
The court also reminded Israel that “starvation of the civilian population must not be used as a method of warfare,” a statement that analysts say could bolster the separate case before the International Criminal Court (ICC), which last year issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Gaza war began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s military response has since killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry figures cited by U.N. agencies. While Israel disputes the numbers, it has not released its own casualty data.