The UN’s top court to issue a landmark ruling — Did Israel violate international law by depriving Palestinians of essential supplies?

The Hague

The United Nations' highest court is preparing to issue an advisory opinion on whether Israel has breached international law in its conduct in Gaza. The case, brought forward by more than 40 countries and aid organizations, accuses Israel of serious violations, including depriving Palestinians of food, water, and medical supplies, and targeting aid workers. 

The court's decision, while non-binding, aims to hold Israel accountable and reinforce the obligation of all UN member states to uphold international law and allow humanitarian aid. Previous rulings by the court, including binding measures and advisory opinions, have reportedly been ignored by Israel. Palestinian representatives emphasize the importance of pursuing legal action at the international level, despite the challenges in enforcement.

UN court to rule on whether Israel broke international laws

Palestinians in Gaza not only bombed but also starved to death in the two years of Israel's genocide. More than 40 countries and aid organizations came to The Hague in April, accusing the occupying power of serious violations of international law by depriving Palestinians of food and urgent medical supplies. Israel is engaged in a genocide, a crime of genocide, which includes also the starvation of the population. It is time to make sure that any pretext, security, peace talks, whatever the pretext is, you cannot deny food, water, medicine and all the necessities that people need to live. Countries have accused Israel of deliberately targeting aid workers and nearly 400 UN staff members have been killed during the genocide in Gaza. After the Knesset, Israel's parliament decided to ban UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, aid became scarce. With the advisory opinion on Wednesday, countries not only want Israel to be held accountable but also make sure that all UN member states enforce international law allowing humanitarian aid to those in need. The decision by the UN's highest court is non-binding and is widely expected to be ignored by Israel, just like it ignored binding provisional measures in the genocide case filed by South Africa here at the same court, or the advisory opinion to stop occupying Palestinian land and remove all illegal settlements immediately also here last year. But the Palestinian ambassador says this all proves the importance of taking legal cases to the UN highest court. Israel today is viewed by many as a rogue state, which it is in our opinion because it defies international law, it defies the basics and the core principles of international law, it commits crimes and certainly like all other criminals, international law at a certain point will catch up with their criminality. A battle for justice at the highest international level, but for the people in Gaza still waiting for all necessary supplies, it can't come fast enough. Steph Farson, Al Jazeera, in The Hague.

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Bogotá

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Moscow

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Chicago

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Beijing

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Doha

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Breakdown