The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold hearings next month to assess Israel’s humanitarian obligations toward Palestinians, following allegations that the Israeli government is obstructing aid access to Gaza.
The hearings, set to begin on April 28 at the ICJ’s headquarters in The Hague, stem from a UN General Assembly resolution passed in December, which requested an advisory opinion on the matter.
The resolution, proposed by Norway in October, was adopted by a large majority.
It calls on the ICJ to clarify Israel’s responsibilities in ensuring the unhindered provision of essential supplies to the Palestinian population.
Although ICJ rulings are legally binding, the court lacks enforcement mechanisms. However, its decisions carry significant diplomatic weight.
In July, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory was illegal and should end as soon as possible.
The upcoming hearings will further examine Israel’s strict controls on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, where 2.4 million Palestinians face a severe crisis.
Norway’s initiative was partly driven by an Israeli law enacted in January, banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from operating on “Israeli soil” or coordinating with the Israeli government.
Israeli authorities accuse some UNRWA employees of involvement in Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, an accusation they have failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove to the international community.
