International Court of Justice Opens Hearings on Israel’s Humanitarian Obligations in Gaza

Watan-The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will open a week of hearings on Monday focused on Israel’s humanitarian obligations toward the Palestinians, after more than 50 days of imposing a comprehensive blockade on the entry of aid into war-torn Gaza.

Representatives of the United Nations will begin a five-day marathon session at the ICJ, the UN’s highest court in The Hague (Netherlands), starting at 10 a.m. (08:00 GMT) before a panel of 15 judges. The State of Palestine will be the first to present its arguments, occupying most of the day’s proceedings.

Throughout the week, 38 other countries will present their arguments, including the United States, China, France, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, along with the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union.

UN Seeks ICJ Ruling on Israel’s Aid Blockade in Gaza

In December, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution, introduced by Norway, requesting the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion.

The resolution asks the Court to clarify what Israel must do regarding the presence of the UN, its agencies, and international organizations or third-party states “to ensure and facilitate the unimpeded delivery of urgently needed supplies for the survival of the Palestinian civilian population.”

Israel controls all flows of international aid, which are vital for 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza suffering from an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Israel cut off this aid on March 2, just days before the collapse of a fragile ceasefire after 15 months of continuous fighting.

On Friday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned what he called a “man-made and politically driven famine.”

According to the United Nations, around 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the end of the two-month ceasefire.

Israel resumed its air and ground assaults on March 18, leading to what the UN described as “perhaps the worst” humanitarian crisis in Gaza since the war began following the October 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on Israeli settlements.

Growing Frustration

That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, according to a count by Agence France-Presse based on official Israeli figures.

Since then, Israel’s retaliatory military operations have killed at least 52,243 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, which the UN deems reliable.

At least 2,111 Palestinians have been killed since March 18 alone.

Israeli officials continue to insist that military pressure is the only way to force Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli army has declared dead.

While the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, they carry significant weight and could increase diplomatic pressure on Israel.

In January 2024, the ICJ called on Israel to prevent any acts of genocide and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. In March 2024, responding to a request from South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, the Court ordered new measures requiring Israel to address the spreading “famine” in Gaza.

Haris Hurremagic, a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (Switzerland), noted that “the parties involved in the conflict have not demonstrated a strong commitment to respecting international law.”

He added, “The request for an advisory opinion reflects widespread frustration at the absence of meaningful dialogue to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza.”

In July of the previous year, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion declaring the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories “illegal” and calling for its termination as soon as possible.