The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will on Wednesday issue its long-awaited advisory opinion on Israel’s obligation to permit and facilitate the operations of the United Nations and other aid agencies in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
The opinion was requested by the United Nations General Assembly in late 2024 and was submitted after months of deliberations and public hearings in The Hague earlier this year. It will be debated whether Israel, as an occupying power, must ensure full access for the United Nations and humanitarian aid agencies amid ongoing restrictions that severely limit the supply of food, medicine and fuel to Palestinians.
The decision comes at a critical time, with Gaza facing one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises, including widespread hunger, destroyed infrastructure and repeated Israeli blockades that prevent the delivery of aid, Reuters said.
According to Al-Mayadeen’s report, the court’s decision will not be legally binding, but will carry important political and moral authority that will shape the international community’s interpretation of Israel’s responsibilities under humanitarian and occupation law.
At issue is the regime’s compliance with the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires occupying powers to ensure the welfare of civilians and allow relief operations when local resources are insufficient. The court is expected to clarify whether Israel has a positive obligation to facilitate the work of UN agencies such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other humanitarian agencies working to assist Palestinians.
MNA