This came in a non-binding legal advisory opinion issued by the court in The Hague on Israel's obligations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, at the request of the United Nations General Assembly in December 2024.
This is the court's third ruling on Israel's actions since the outbreak of the war in Gaza more than two years ago. Last July, it ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories was illegal, and earlier, it ordered Israel to take urgent measures to prevent genocide in Gaza.
The court stated in its opinion that Palestinians in Gaza "did not receive sufficient supplies to meet their basic needs during the two years of war," stressing that Israel, as an occupying power, must "facilitate relief efforts for civilians and allow unimpeded access to humanitarian aid."
She also stressed that Israel "is obligated not to use the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare," and that it must respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories, in accordance with international human rights law.
The Associated Press quoted court president Yuji Iwasawa as saying that Israel "is obligated to agree to facilitate relief plans provided by the United Nations and its agencies, including UNRWA."
In this context, the private Hebrew Channel 12 reported that the legal opinion, "although not legally binding, carries significant moral and diplomatic weight on the international stage."
For its part, Israel rejected the decision. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement on the X platform on Wednesday that his country "categorically rejects the advisory opinion issued by the court," claiming it was "another political attempt to impose political measures against Israel under the guise of international law."
He claimed that Israel "fully adheres to its obligations under international law," adding that Israel does not accept "the politicization of international law, which seeks to produce political results and impose measures aimed at harming the State of Israel."
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has perpetrated a two-year genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
This genocide left 68,234 martyrs and 170,373 injured, most of them children and women, and widespread destruction affecting 90% of the civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
A ceasefire has been in effect between Hamas and Israel since October 10 , in accordance with US President Donald Trump's plan , but it has been marred by several Israeli violations.
