World Court Tells Israel to Facilitate Aid to Gaza
The International Court of Justice on Wednesday told Israel to cooperate with U.N. relief efforts in Gaza and the West Bank, not impede them.
The Hague-based court’s nonbinding advisory opinion centered on Israel’s duty to allow international aid agencies to operate in areas that much of the world considers occupied Palestinian territory. The court, a branch of the United Nations, issued the ruling at the request of the U.N. General Assembly.
Much of the opinion delivered on Wednesday focused on Israel’s attempts to curb the work of the U.N. agency that aids Palestinians, known as UNRWA. Israeli officials have sought to ban the agency, accusing it of being infiltrated by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
But the International Court of Justice said in its opinion that Israel should not interfere with UNRWA’s work in the West Bank and Gaza. Instead, the court told the Israeli government to “agree to and facilitate” attempts to provide aid there “by all means at its disposal” — including efforts by UNRWA.
Israel and Hamas are currently observing a U.S.-backed cease-fire that the Trump administration hopes will end the Gaza war. Under the truce, Israel has begun allowing more desperately needed aid into Gaza, although humanitarian officials say more still is needed.
Yuji Iwasawa, the court’s president, read out the ruling on Wednesday which said that Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for ensuring that people living in the West Bank and Gaza have “the essential supplies of daily life,” including food and shelter.
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