UN and Palestinian Officials Accuse Israel of Blocking Gaza Aid at World Court
On Monday, representatives from the United Nations and Palestine accused Israel of breaching international law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza, as proceedings began at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to review Israel’s legal responsibilities regarding aid access.
Since March 2, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Food reserves stockpiled during a previous ceasefire have now been largely exhausted.
Addressing the ICJ, U.N. legal adviser Elinor Hammarskjöld emphasized that, under international law, Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to permit and support the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
“In the current circumstances in the occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel must enable all relevant U.N. agencies to deliver aid to civilians,” Hammarskjöld stated.
Palestinian delegate Ammar Hijazi went further, accusing Israel of weaponizing aid, warning that Palestinians in Gaza were facing imminent starvation.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking from Jerusalem, dismissed the ICJ hearings as politically motivated, criticizing the United Nations for what he described as its failure to address Hamas’ alleged infiltration of UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
“They are exploiting the court to coerce Israel into working with an organization infiltrated by Hamas operatives,” Saar claimed. “This undermines Israel’s basic right to self-defense.”
The United Nations acknowledged in August that nine UNRWA employees may have been involved in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, resulting in their dismissal. Israel also reported the death of a Hamas commander who had been employed by UNRWA.
The ICJ, often referred to as the World Court, was tasked in December with issuing an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations to allow humanitarian deliveries, including those coordinated by international and U.N. agencies.
Israel maintains that no aid will be allowed until Hamas releases all hostages still held in Gaza. It has also accused Hamas of intercepting aid supplies, a claim the group denies.
“This case highlights how Israel is dismantling the basic conditions for life in Palestine by blocking the U.N. and other humanitarian providers from delivering critical assistance,” Hijazi argued before the court.
Pressure on Israel has intensified in recent weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump stated Friday that he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to facilitate the delivery of food and medical aid. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have also called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
Although ICJ advisory opinions are not legally enforceable, they carry considerable political and legal influence. The court’s decision is expected to take several months.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 52,243 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s military operations began in October 2023.
Since the resumption of hostilities on March 18 after a ceasefire breakdown, another 2,151 people have died, and 5,598 have been injured.
Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of war crimes in Gaza. Israel also faces a separate genocide case at the ICJ.
