ICJ Orders Israel to Permit UNRWA Gaza Aid

The International Court of Justice issued a nonbinding advisory opinion ordering Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza and not unconditionally suspend relief, saying it must ensure Palestinians receive basic needs essential for survival. The court specifically named UNRWA among UN relief schemes Israel must agree to and facilitate and found Israel had not substantiated claims that a significant portion of UNRWA staff were members of Hamas or that the agency discriminated in aid distribution. Israel did not participate in the proceedings, has banned UNRWA domestically, and its government and UN ambassador sharply rejected the opinion as politically motivated and "shameful." Aid agencies, including the World Food Programme, report increased but still insufficient truck deliveries into Gaza amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing obstacles to scaling up relief. In response to the ICJ opinion, Norway said it will propose a UN General Assembly resolution demanding that Israel lift restrictions on aid to Palestinians.