UN seeks World Court opinion on Gaza

20/12/2024 6:11

The United Nations

General Assembly voted on Thursday to ask the International

Court of Justice for an opinion on Israel's obligations to

facilitate aid to Palestinians that is delivered by states and

international groups including the U.N.



The Norwegian-drafted resolution was adopted by the

193-member body with 137 votes in favor. Israel, the United

States and 10 other countries voted no, while 22 countries

abstained.



The move came in response to Israel's decision to ban the

operation of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA in the

country from late January and other obstacles faced by other

U.N. agencies in their aid work in Gaza over the past year.



The ICJ, known as the World Court, is the United Nations'

highest court, and its advisory opinions carry legal and

political weight although they are not binding. The Hague-based

court has no enforcement powers if its opinions are ignored.



The resolution adopted on Thursday also expressed "grave

concern about the dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied

Palestinian Territory" and "calls upon Israel to uphold and

comply with its obligations not to impede the Palestinian people

from exercising its right to self-determination."



The U.N. views Gaza and the West Bank as Israeli-occupied

territory. International humanitarian law requires an occupying

power to agree to relief programs for people in need and to

facilitate them "by all the means at its disposal" and ensure

food, medical care, hygiene and public-health standards.



The new Israeli law does not directly ban UNRWA's operations

in the West Bank and Gaza. However, it will severely impact

UNRWA's ability to work. Top U.N. officials and the Security

Council describe UNRWA as the backbone of Gaza's aid response.







REPLACE UNRWA?



In a letter to the 15-member Security Council on Wednesday,

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said that "replacing UNRWA

with relief schemes that will adequately provide essential

assistance to Palestinian civilians is not at all impossible."



"Israel is willing and ready to work with international

partners (and already does work tirelessly) so as to allow and

facilitate the continued passage of humanitarian aid to

civilians in Gaza, and to ensure the unhindered provision of

these necessary basic services, in a way that does not undermine

Israel's security," Danon wrote in the letter seen by Reuters.



The U.N. has long-complained of aid obstacles in Gaza since

the war between Palestinian militants Hamas and Israel began on

Oct. 7, 2023. The U.N. blames Israel and lawlessness in the

enclave for impediments getting aid into Gaza and distributing

it to Palestinians throughout the war zone.



A committee of global food security experts warned last

month that there is a "strong likelihood that famine is imminent

in areas" of northern Gaza.



Israel has said the issue in Gaza was not a lack of aid

because more than a million tons had been delivered during the

past year. It accuses Hamas of hijacking the assistance. Hamas

has denied the allegations and has blamed Israel for shortages.



Israel has long had tense relations with UNRWA, but ties

have deteriorated further in the past year.



Israel says UNRWA staff took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas

attack on Israel. The U.N. has said nine UNRWA staff may have

been involved and have been fired. A Hamas commander in Lebanon

- killed by Israel - was also found to have had an UNRWA job.