Netherlands: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a unanimous order instructing Israel to allow the free flow of aid into Gaza to prevent a famine. ICJ, the highest court of the United Nations (UN), stated that Israel must take immediate action to facilitate the ‘provision of urgently required basic services and humanitarian assistance.’
The order comes after earlier reported warnings that Gaza could face famine within weeks. In response to the charge, Israel described the allegation of withholding aid as absolutely baseless. Additionally, it rejected the genocide charges brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice and blamed the United Nations for problems with aid delivery.
The latest ruling by The Hague court comes in response to South Africa’s request to strengthen an order issued to Israel in January. The order required Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. It is important to note that while the orders issued by the ICJ are legally binding, the court does not hold the authority to enforce them.
According to a report released last week by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Global Initiative, which is run by the World Food Programme and other organizations, a “catastrophic” situation is evolving in Gaza. The report warns that all 2.2 million people living in Gaza are ‘facing high levels of acute food insecurity’ and that starvation is expected to affect the northern part of the territory before the end of May.
The ICJ ruling said that, “Gaza was no longer facing only a risk of famine but famine is setting in and that, according to UN observers, 31 people, including 27 children, had already died of malnutrition and dehydration.”
The UN’s top court also cited comments by Volker Turk, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights. Last week Turk commented that, “The situation of hunger, starvation and famine was a result of Israel’s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure.”
“Israel must take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance,” the court added.
In the report, food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, and clothing are underlined as the most significant aid items. The ruling stated that Israel must confirm that its military does not violate the Genocide Convention rights of Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli government asked the ICJ last week not to issue the latest order, saying South Africa’s allegations were ‘wholly unfounded in fact and law’ and ‘morally repugnant.’ It dismissed the broader case against it under the Genocide Convention and called it unfounded. Furthermore, Israel stated that Hamas is taking most of the aid that enters Gaza and that the UN is failing to distribute the remainder of the aid to the civilian population.
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