Israel’s Gaza Aid Blockade Slammed as 'Genocidal' in World Court Hearings
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearings on Monday to address accusations that Israel is violating international law by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, where 2.3 million residents face severe shortages.
The U.N. and Palestinian representatives argued that Israel’s actions since March 2, when it halted all aid and commercial goods, have created a dire humanitarian crisis, while Israel’s Foreign Minister dismissed the proceedings as a “circus.”
U.N. Highlights Legal Obligations
Elinor Hammarskjold, the U.N.’s undersecretary-general for Legal Affairs, opened the hearings by emphasizing Israel’s responsibilities as an occupying power.
“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,” she said.
Hammarskjold noted that no aid has entered Gaza since March 2, leading to “devastating humanitarian consequences,” with at least 295 U.N. personnel killed since the conflict’s onset.
She stressed that Israel must facilitate relief schemes, support children’s institutions, and maintain medical services, including those provided by the U.N.
Palestinian Claims of “Weaponizing” Aid
Palestinian representative Ammar Hijazi, ambassador to the Netherlands, accused Israel of using aid as “a weapon of war,” asserting that its policies have led to starvation and a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe.”
“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.
He further claimed that Israel’s actions aim at “permanent annexation, ethnic cleansing,” and violate Palestinians’ fundamental rights, with the Israeli Supreme Court rejecting petitions to allow aid.
Allegations of Genocidal Acts
Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, an Irish lawyer representing Palestine, described Israel’s actions as “not only inhumane but genocidal,” citing a U.N. Commission of Inquiry’s conclusions.
She detailed violations, including Israel’s forcible entry into U.N. schools, attacks on U.N. food stores and convoys, and use of U.N. premises as military bases.
Israel’s obstruction of UN aid supplies, goods and equipment into and throughout the territory has been a recurring issue, she said, particularly during large-scale military operations since 2009.
UNRWA’s Critical Role
Ardi Imseis, a professor representing Palestine, underscored the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as the “backbone” of Gaza’s relief efforts.
Established in 1949 after the displacement of 750,000–900,000 Palestinians, UNRWA’s mandate remains vital, Imseis argued, especially since Israel’s 1967 occupation displaced another 250,000–300,000 Palestinians.
UNRWA’s unparalleled infrastructure, community trust, and expertise make it irreplaceable, he said, noting the agency’s essential services across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied territories.
Israel’s Defense and Political Backdrop
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking in Jerusalem, criticized the hearings as politicized, alleging that UNRWA is “infested with Hamas terrorists.”
Israel maintains it will not allow aid into Gaza until Hamas releases all hostages, accusing the group of hijacking supplies — a claim Hamas denies.
The ICJ’s advisory opinion, expected in months, carries legal weight but is non-binding, with no enforcement mechanism.
The hearings follow international calls, including from U.S. President Donald Trump and European nations, for Israel to allow unhindered aid into Gaza, where food stockpiles have nearly depleted since a prior ceasefire.