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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has commenced hearings into Israel’s alleged blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, with United Nations and Palestinian officials accusing Israel of breaching international law by restricting essential supplies. During Monday’s opening session at The Hague, legal representatives asserted that Israel’s conduct has left the 2.3 million residents of Gaza facing acute shortages of food and other vital resources, particularly since the complete halt of supplies on 2 March.
Elinor Hammarskjold, legal counsel for the United Nations, told the court that Israel, as the occupying power, holds a legal duty to enable and support humanitarian relief operations for civilians. “In the specific context of the current situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, these obligations entail allowing all relevant U.N. entities to carry out activities for the benefit of the local population,” Hammarskjold stated.
Palestinian delegate Ammar Hijazi described the restrictions as part of a deliberate campaign, alleging that Israel is “using humanitarian aid as a weapon of war” while civilians in Gaza endure starvation.
Israel did not appear in person but submitted a written response. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised the proceedings, calling them a “circus” and claiming the court is being exploited for political ends. Speaking from Jerusalem, he said the United Nations had failed to take action against individuals within its agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, who were allegedly connected to militant groups in Gaza.
“They are abusing the court once again to try and force Israel to cooperate with an organisation that is infested with Hamas terrorists,” Saar said. “The goal is to deprive Israel of its most basic right to defend itself.”
The U.N. previously reported that nine UNRWA staff may have taken part in the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 and had been dismissed. Israel also claimed that a UNRWA employee identified as a Hamas commander was killed in Gaza last October, a claim acknowledged by the agency.
In December, the ICJ was tasked with offering a legal opinion on whether Israel is obligated under international law to allow humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza from states and global organisations, including U.N. bodies.
Israel maintains it will not permit aid deliveries until Hamas releases all remaining hostages, accusing the group of diverting humanitarian supplies—an allegation Hamas denies.
“This case is about Israel destroying the fundamentals of life in Palestine, while it blocks the U.N. and other providers of humanitarian aid from providing life-saving aid to the population,” Hijazi told the court.
International pressure on Israel has grown, with calls from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom urging for unimpeded aid access to Gaza. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also claimed he had personally encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to authorise the delivery of food and medicine.
Although the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not legally binding and lack enforcement mechanisms, they hold considerable legal and political influence. A final opinion from the court is expected to take several months.
