ICJ Orders Israel to Allow Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza, Rejects Claims Against UNRWA

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Tuesday ruled that Israel must immediately allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, declaring that restrictions imposed by Tel Aviv violate international law and the UN Charter. The court’s advisory opinion, though non-binding, carries significant moral and diplomatic weight and has intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s handling of the Gaza crisis.

The ICJ determined that Israel, as the occupying power, is obligated to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and fuel to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The court further ordered that aid be distributed “regularly, fairly, and without discrimination.”

Delivering the opinion, Judge Yuji Iwasawa said Israel cannot justify its complete suspension of UN operations on security grounds. The court also rejected Israeli claims that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was infiltrated by Hamas, stating there was no credible evidence supporting that allegation.

The ruling comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where aid convoys have been severely restricted since Israel halted cooperation with UNRWA earlier this year. The ICJ emphasized that deliberate deprivation of essential goods or starvation of civilians “can never be justified, even under security concerns.”

Israel dismissed the ruling as “politically biased,” with government officials arguing that the court failed to consider its security challenges. The United States also criticized the decision, calling the ICJ “corrupt and one-sided.”

Palestinian authorities and global aid agencies hailed the verdict as a landmark step toward accountability, urging immediate action to resume UN-led relief operations. Though not enforceable, the ICJ’s opinion reinforces international expectations that Israel comply with humanitarian obligations and restore unrestricted access for aid agencies in Gaza.