Pakistan Urges ICJ to Act Against Israel’s Violations of UN Agency Protections
At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday, Pakistan strongly criticized Israel’s actions against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), describing them as a grave violation of the United Nations’ legal protections.
Pakistan’s representative, Syed Haider Shah, argued that Israel’s behavior amounts to “one of the most serious breaches” of the rights and immunities granted to international organizations under UN frameworks. He warned that allowing such actions to go unchecked could set a dangerous global precedent, enabling other states to silence international watchdogs.
“If Israel’s actions are not addressed, they may serve as a model for governments worldwide to evade accountability by dismantling international oversight,” Shah stated. “This threatens the integrity of UN operations across the globe.”
He emphasized that this case reflects a broader trend of what he called Israel’s continuous repression of the Palestinian people, which undermines their rights to return, independence, and statehood. Shah described these actions as a severe challenge to international legal norms.
Rejecting arguments to avoid addressing the situation’s realities, Shah painted a grim picture of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling it “an endless cycle of suffering and death.”
Pakistan urged the ICJ to show the same resolve it displayed in its 2024 advisory opinion and take meaningful steps to hold Israel accountable. Shah also called on the court to protect UNRWA’s ability to continue its humanitarian mission without obstruction.
Since March 2, Israel has sealed Gaza’s border crossings, halting the delivery of crucial supplies amid warnings of famine. On March 18, Israeli forces resumed their offensive in Gaza, breaking a previous ceasefire deal with Hamas that had been in place since January 19.
More than 52,400 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023.
